AI mission delegates being shown coltan and cassiterite, Tchonka, Shabunda territory, South Kivu province, eastern DRC, April 2009. Copyright Amnesty International

AI mission delegates being shown coltan and cassiterite, Tchonka, Shabunda territory, South Kivu province, eastern DRC, April 2009.
Coltan and cassiterite are hardly distinguishable to the naked eye; Coltan, which is more valuable, is magnetic.
Coltan is an abbreviation used in parts of Africa for ‘columbo-tantalite’. Tantalite is a mineral containing Tantalum and columbite contains columbium, now called niobium. Tantalum is used primarily for the production of capacitors for use in devices such as mobile phones, DVD players, and computers.
Cassiterite mineral containing tin oxide.

7 thoughts on “AI mission delegates being shown coltan and cassiterite, Tchonka, Shabunda territory, South Kivu province, eastern DRC, April 2009. Copyright Amnesty International

  1. now called niobium. Tantalum is used primarily for the production of capacitors for use in devices such as mobile phones, DVD players, and computers.
    Cassiterite mineral containing tin oxide.

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