Abstract
Due to their chemical, physical and mechanical properties, niobium (Nb) and tantalum
(Ta) are strategically used in various technical applications. About 130 different minerals
contain tantalum and niobium, of which only about 80 are found in economical deposits.
The remainder contains Nb and Ta as impurities. The most commercialised source of Nb
and Ta is a columbite-tantalite ore often referred to as coltan containing pyrochlorite. The
Central African Mesoproterozoic Kibara belt in Katanga (Democratic Republic of Congo)
forms a metallogenic province that hosts a variety of granite-related mineralization, rich
in cassiterite, columbite–tantalite, wolframite/ferberite, spodumene and beryl. This study
focuses on the characterization of Nb/Ta ores from the Kibara belt by using the XRF,
SEM/EDS, XRD and ICP-OES. It was observed that Nb/Ta ore that occurs in this belt
has a high Nb/Ta ratio. The grade of the ore is 0.01wt% Ta and 0.04wt% Nb. The major
minerals phases are Tapiolite, Tantalite, Simpsonite, Pyrochlore and Ilmenorutile. The
major gangue minerals present locking Nb/Ta are silica, feldspars with small amounts of
mica and quartz. The size of the particles containing Nb/Ta are 8-12microns. Basing on
these results, flotation is proposed at as the suitable way of concentrating this ore.