Occurrence & Locations

Detailed information about where Columbite is found across Nigeria

Ririwai Mines

Kano State • Doguwa LGA

2019

Location Details:

The mine contains a large amount of Tin deposits along with Columbine, quartz, Kaolin and zinc

Specifications:

Unspecifield

Estimated Reserves:

16,150 million tonnes.

Coordinates: 10.733330°N, 8.750000°E

Isanlu-Esa

Kogi State • Yagba West LGA

2019

Location Details:

Isanlu-Esa villages in Yagba West Local Government of Kogi State, Nigeria

Specifications:

(Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6

Estimated Reserves:

Unmeasured

Coordinates: 8.486218°N, 5.484774°E

Jos

Plateau State • Jos South LGA

2019

Location Details:

Jos is the capital of plateau state.

Specifications:

44 % Ta 86.01 % Ta2O5

Estimated Reserves:

Unspecifield

Coordinates: 9.896500°N, 8.858300°E

Overview

Columbite, also called niobite, niobite-tantalite and columbate [(Fe, Mn)Nb₂O₆], is a black mineral group that is an ore of niobium. It has a submetallic luster and a high density . It forms a series with the tantalum-dominant analogue ferrotantalite and one with the manganese-dominant analogue manganocolumbite. The iron-rich member of the columbite group is ferrocolumbite. Some tin and tungsten may be present in the mineral. Columbite has the same composition and crystal symmetry (orthorombic) as tantalite. The two are often grouped together as a semi-singular mineral series called columbite-tantalite or coltan in many mineral guides. However, tantalite has a much greater specific gravity than columbite, more than 8.0 compared to columbite's 5.2.

Uses & Applications

Columbite is the most widespread niobium mineral and makes for an important ore of the industrially useful metal.

Laptop computers
Cellular phones
Jet engines
Rockets
Cutting tools
Camera lenses
X-ray film
Ink jet printers
Hearing aids
Pacemakers
Airbag protection systems
Ignition and motor control modules, GPS,

ABS systems in automobiles

Game consoles such as playstation, xbox

and nintendo

Video cameras
Digital still cameras
Prosthetic devices for humans - hips, platesin the skull,

Occurrence

In Nigeria, pegmatite deposits of coltan are frequently also the source of several precious and semi-precious stones such as beryl, aquamarine, and tourmaline. These pegmatites are found in Nassarawa State near the Jos Plateau, as well as in several areas in southeast Nigeria. In Nigeria Tin and Columbite has been found to be associated with the younger granite rock which is Tin bearing. The weathering, transportation and deposition of Tin from the younger granite have given rise to the alluvial Tin deposition of Nigeria. There is small-scale mining of these minerals.

Investment Opportunities

Columbite is a strategic mineral that is used mainly in the electronic industry. Nigeria is a big market for electronics and a hub for the west African market. Nigerian mining industry has been opened up with a lot of investment opportunities in exploration and processing for local consumption and export.