Tantalum-Pentoxide
Tantalum Pentoxide (Ta 20 5) is a white solid inorganic compound that is insoluble in solvents but susceptible to attack from hydrofluoric acid and strong basis.
The white solid inorganic compound of tantalum pentoxide is also widely known as being tantalum oxide. It is attacked by hydrofluoric acid and strong basis but insoluble in all solvents. When it is added to glass, that is being manufactured for optical lenses, the lenses can be made thinner and lighter, attributes that are well suited for special optical applications such as cameras etc. The addition of tantalum pentoxide allows the glass properties to better reach the desired distribution of colour therefore allowing it to be specifically set.
Tantalum is found in the mineral tantalite and columbite. Columbite being connected to columbium that was once known as niobium. It occurs naturally in pegmatites that are igneous rock formations. When tantalite and columbite is mixed it is called coltan.
Tantalum ore is often found to contain rather large amounts of niobium, a valuable metal in its own right. A feature that makes mining for tantalum attractive as both metals are highly sought after. Tantalum is separated from the host ore by a process known as hydrometallurgy that begins with leaching. Leaching consists of treating the ore with sulphuric and hydrofluoric acid that produces hydrogenfluorides that allow the metals to separate from the non-metallic rock.
Tantalum pentoxide is widely used to produce lithium tantalate single crystals that are cut into wafers. These wafers are used in the manufacturing of surface acoustic wave filters that have uses in the following products:
Smartphones
Smart metres
Tablet PC's
GPS applications
Ultrabooks
Computers
Automotive electronics
Game systems
Tools for cutting metal and machining
Metal alloys in the aerospace and electricity generating industries
Australia has been the largest producer of tantalum for many years in the form of tantalite concentrate. It has been estimated that there are 62 kilotonnes of tantalum held in reserve in Australia that produces around half of the world's annual requirement. The world reserve of tantalum is estimated to be 131 kilotonnes. Brazil in the only country with more tantalum than Australia having a reserve of 65 kilotonnes. Tantalum is currently mined in Australia at Wodgina, 100 kilometres from Port Hedland and the Greenbushes mining operation, 250 kilometres south of Perth and Mount Cattlin. It is also found at Mount Weld, Halls Creek, Arthur River, Dalgaranga and Mount Deans in Western Australia, as well as the Toongi deposit in New South Wales.
Alkane Resources Limited have constructed a pilot plant at ANSTO Minerals Lucas Heights facility in Sydney where it has recovered many tonnes of niobium, tantalum, zirconia and rare earth concentrate from ore sourced from the Toogi deposit, 20 kilometres, south of Dubbo in New South Wales.
Tantalum Facts:
- Tantalum is the 49th most abundant element on Earth
- It can be produced as a by product in the smelting of tin
- It can be extracted from concentrates by reduction with the use of fused salt electrolysis or sodium Tantalum carbide is produced by the carbonisation of tantalum pentoxide
- Raw tantalum is refined and purified by sintering, electric arc melting, or electron beam melting
- Tantalum has diverse applications ranging from hard metal tooling to capacitors and chemical equipment
- The demand for tantalum peroxide is expected to increase because of the growing electronic equipment market
Australian Mines that produce Bauxite
Gove (NT)
Up to 600 workers employed at the Gove bauxite refinery in the Northern Territory face an uncertain future as Pacific Aluminium suspends alumina production.
Ely (QLD)
The Ely Alcan Queensland Pty Ltd agreement at the Weipa bauxite mine is due to expire in 2041 but an option will give it a further 21 years extension.
Skardon River (QLD)
Gulf Alumina acquired 100 percent of the Skardon River tenement in 2011 from its koalin mining joint partner to develop the mining of bauxite at the site
Weipa (QLD)
The Weipa bauxite mine on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland is both owned and operated by Rio Tinto Alcan.
Huntly (WA)
The Huntly mine in Western Australia is the largest bauxite mine in the world currently producing about 23 million tonnes of bauxite annually.
Willowdale (WA)
The Willowdale bauxite mine that commenced production in 1984 still processes 10 million tonnes of bauxite a year at the nearby Wagerup Refinery.
Worsley (WA)
The Worsley bauxite mine and alumina refinery in South West Western Australia employs more than 1,800 people and produces 4.6 million tonnes of alumina annually.
South Aurukun (QLD)
The South Aurukun bauxite tenements on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland are held by Gulf Alumina.
Marchinbar Island (NSW)
The Marchinbar Island bauxite deposit in far north Northern Territory could be mined to satisfy a growing demand from China in the near future.
Kwinana Refinery (WA)
The Kwinana refinery in WA employs around 1,000 direct employees with 60 percent living in the nearby towns of Rockingham, Cockburn and Kwinana.
Wagerup Refinery (WA)
The Alcoa owned Wagerup alumina refinery in W.A. has received governmental approval to lift alumina production from 2.6 to 2.65 million tonnes annually.
Pinjarra Alumina Refinery (WA)
The Pinjarra alumina refinery, near Mandurah south of Perth, is an important part of Alcoa's three refinery system in Western Australia.
Portland Aluminium Smelter (VIC)
The Portland Aluminium smelter in western Victoria, a joint venture operation between Alcoa, CITIC and Marubeni, caters solely to the Asian market.
Felicitas (WA)
The Felicitas bauxite project in Western Australia contains a bauxite resource of 220 million tonnes that will give it a life of mine of 25 years
South Of Embley (QLD)
Despite Rio Tinto placing its South of Embley bauxite project in Cape York, Queensland, on hold for 18 months it still considers it a 'good project.'
Bauxite Hills (QLD)
The Bauxite Hills Project on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland is hoping to take advantage of an expected increase in the demand for Alumina.
Bald Hill (TAS)
Australian Bauxite Limited's Bald Hill mine, in Tasmania, is to start production in December, 2014. It is the first new bauxite mine in Australia, for over 35 years.
Urquhart Point (QLD)
The Urquhart Point Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Cape York in Far North Queensland is expected to begin production in mid-2015.
Amrun (QLD)
The Amrun bauxite project in far north Queensland, that was previously known as the 'South of Embley' project has been approved for development and expected to be in production by 2019.
