Tantalum
About Tantalum
Tantalum is a highly corrosion-resistant refractory metal essential for miniaturized electronic capacitors found in smartphones, computers, and medical devices. The Democratic Republic of Congo and surrounding central African nations are major sources, and tantalum has been designated a conflict mineral subject to supply chain due diligence requirements. Its biocompatibility also makes it valuable for surgical implants.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- Ta
- Atomic Number
- 73
- Category
- Refractory Metal
- Criticality Level
- High
- Supply Risk
- High
- Top Producer
- DR Congo
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Tantalum In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Tantalum value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Tantalum across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Tantalum supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Tantalum is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Tantalum products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Tantalum.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Tantalum.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Tantalum, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Tantalum pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Tantalum value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Tantalum worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Tantalum.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.