Kenya Discovered Deposits of Coltan, A Valuable Mineral

Kenya has discovered its first reserves of the valuable mineral Coltan. This rare mineral is used to manufacture electric car batteries, mobile phones and other electronic devices.

About Colton Search

• The Democratic Republic of Congo has more than 70% of the world's coltan reserves, which has fueled violent conflict in the country's east for decades.
• Coltan is often refined into metallic tantalum, a heat-resistant powder used to produce capacitors, which are used to manufacture electronic components.
• The price of coltan depends on how much tantalum it contains, but on average, a kilogram of the rare ore costs $48 (£37), according to Forbes.
• Analysts say international demand for coltan is growing rapidly and has become one of the driving forces behind the conflict in eastern DR Congo, as rival militias fight for control of mines that produce coltan and other valuable minerals.

DR Congo, along with neighboring Rwanda, are the world's two top coltan suppliers.

About Coltan

• Coltan is short for columbite-tantalite, a dull metal ore. When refined, coltan becomes metallic tantalum, a heat-resistant powder, which has unique properties of storing electrical charge.
• Coltan is found in granitic pegmatites, places where deep-seated molten rock finally crystallizes. Pegmatites contain giant crystals of many rare metals as well as some common minerals.

Use of Colton:

Tantalum from coltan is used to make tantalum capacitors that are used for mobile phones, personal computers, automotive electronics, and cameras.

Where is it found:

• Democratic Republic of the Congo (80%)
• Western Australia
• Canada
• Brazil
• China
• Ethiopia
• Mozambique

Coltan is also produced in Thailand and Malaysia as a by-product of tin mining and smelting.

About Republic of Kenya

• Capital: Nairobi
• Language: Swahili, English
• Currency: Kenyan Shilling
• Mountain ranges: Aberdare Range, Mau Escarpment
• Rivers: Athi/Galana, Tana
• Lake Victoria is also located here along with Tanzania and Uganda.