Minerals Yearbook 1989: Columbium (Niobium) and Tantalum

Technical Report · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5352221

Cunningham, L D

The United States remained dependent on imports of columbium and tantalum materials, and the net trade deficit for these minerals was at the highest level since 1981. Most columbium price quotations rose slightly, whereas tantalum concentrate prices declined significantly. Overall reported consumption of columbium in the form of ferrocolumbium and nickel columbium was down, in line with a decline in steel production and a soft superalloy industry. The overall tantalum industry, which had showed signs of some improvement in recent years, was also down. Factory sales of tantalum capacitors were at the lowest level since 1986. However, much interest was being generated relating to tantalum's use in certain armor-piercing penetrator weapon systems.

• Research Organization: National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MD (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5352221
• Report Number(s): PB-91-214627/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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