# Tantalum

A dense, corrosion-proof metal that packs capacitance into tiny electronic components, mined largely by hand in central Africa.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/

Tech & minor metals · No. 35

- EU critical 2023
- US critical 2025
- India critical 2023
- HHI 2,409 · moderately concentrated
 Tech & minor metals · Foundation · Matter

Tiny capacitors in electronics pack tantalum often dug by hand in central Africa, where DR Congo and Rwanda supply about 61%.

Chart: Illustration: Tantalum

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Tantalum comes from pegmatites and weathered deposits, usually with niobium. Artisanal miners wash coltan in Africa's Great Lakes region; Australia and Brazil run larger hard-rock mines. World output was about 2,500 t in 2025.

##### Three things to know

1. Its anodic oxide is such a good dielectric that a small sintered pellet of powder stores a large, stable charge, which is why capacitors use it.
2. The metal melts above 3,000 C and resists corrosion almost like glass, so it suits chemical plant, medical implants and superalloys.
3. US consumption rose 58% in 2025 to about 890 t, all of it imported; the country has mined none since 1959.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Ore**Coltan and tantalite, often washed by hand
2. 2 **Concentrate**Tantalite, counted as Ta2O5
3. 3 **Acid digestion**Dissolved, then purified by solvent extraction
4. 4 **Fluorotantalate**Potassium salt reduced to powder, ingot
5. 5 **End uses**Capacitors, superalloys and carbides
 Covered in [Criticality and geopoliticsCommodities](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/commodities/criticality-and-geopolitics/)[The fine and specialty chemicals business: how it really worksChemicals](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/chemicals/fine-and-specialty-business/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/production/index.md)
- [Stocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/stocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/movement/index.md)
- [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/criticality/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/tantalum/links/index.md)