How much coltan is mined every year?

Production dynamics. Collectively, artisanal coltan miners process a significant ore tonnage at a scale of 5–10 million tons per year. This is comparable in scale to the annual throughput of major industrial tantalum producers, such as the Pitinga tin-tantalum mine in Brazil.

How much does coltan sell?

1kg costs around $100, but prices have historically been as high as $600 per kg. A Congolese Coltan miner can earn up to $200 per month.

Is coltan still used?

Use and demand Coltan is used primarily for the production of tantalum capacitors, used in many electronic devices. Coltan is important in the production of mobile phones; tantalum capacitors are used in almost every kind of electronic device.

Are iPhones made with coltan?

Manufacturers Apple, who make iPhones, and Samsung Electronics, who make the Galaxy, admit they use coltan mined in the DRC to make the smartphones that fuel our 24-7 lifestyle.

How much coltan is in a mobile phone?

In average, 20 to 30 minerals come into the composition of a smartphone. Tin, Gold, Tungsten, Copper, Palladium are examples. Tantalum (Ta), extracted from the ore Coltan, is another. What is so special to Tantalum?

What country has the largest supply of coltan?

Mining in Congo: Approximately 80% of the world’s supply of Coltan is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Coltan is mined by hand in the Congo.

What is the price of coltan per ton?

* Very attractive price: 110.000$ per ton. * It’s used mainly in aviation/defense industry.

Who owns the coltan mines in the Congo?

As of 2018, coltan’s main producers are Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Brazil and China. Australia, Canada and Mozambique are also important players. Thus, the task of supplying world coltan needs has fallen largely on conflict regions and underdeveloped countries.

Is cobalt the same as coltan?

Cobalt (element Co) mining is a totally different supply chain to coltan mining (elements Ta and Nb) and there is no geological overlap of resources or mines.

Who discovered coltan?

Kalegelege
According to the indigenous Pygmy population, the coltan was discovered in March by one of their own, a man called Kalegelege, who used the hard black stone to sharpen his tools. But news travels fast in Congolese villages.