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the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center (T.I.C.) : A visual guide to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) of tantalite : About Tantalum

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A visual guide to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) of tantalite

In 2013/2014 Ulric Schwela, T.I.C.’s then Technical Officer, visited ASM mine sites in Burundi, DRC and Rwanda. These photographs show typical tantalite ASM processes, although in reality operations vary considerably.

A typical hillside mine. Most ASM mines in central Africa are without straightforward access, in some cases an entire day’s walk from the nearest road.

Entrance to a hillside artisanal mine, here protected from falling rocks by a basic shelter.
Entrance to a hillside artisanal mine, here protected from falling rocks by a basic shelter.

In artisanal mines hand tools (hammers and chisels) are used to extract the rock
In artisanal mines hand tools (hammers and chisels) are used to extract the rock

Entrance to a hillside artisanal mine, here protected from falling rocks by a basic shelter.
Entrance to a hillside artisanal mine, here protected from falling rocks by a basic shelter.

The tantalite (or columbo-tantalite) forms small, dark inclusions within the softer, paler pegmatite host rock.

The extracted ore is typically a sandy gravel. Larger pieces are crushed manually or mechanically

The mined ore is washed in stages to concentrate the relatively heavy fractions of tantalite

The first wash is often relatively crude. Plentiful and/or well-managed supplies of washing water is a critical factor for ASM operations.

The material recovered from washing is a fine, dark-grey material that will contain 20-40% tantalite.

The concentrate is heated and dried to remove all moisture.

Once the dry concentrate is bagged and weighed, it is tagged and logged ready for sale to a local trader (comptoir) who will combine it into a larger blended lot for export to a processor/smelter.
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  • Author: Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center (T.I.C.)
  • Published Date: 10/03/2025
  • The T.I.C. was established in response to concerns within the tantalum industry regarding the lack of useful information on tantalum source materials. The initial purpose of the T.I.C. was to spread information about tantalum and to promote the common interest and welfare of the producers, especially with public and private authorities, organisations and agencies. Since its foundation, the T.I.C. has grown to encompass niobium and all stages of the tantalum/niobium supply chains.

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