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Tantalum Metallurgy
The physical and chemical properties of tantalum are similar to those of niobium, which is why the two elements coexist in natural minerals. Main minerals of tantalum include tantalite [(Fe, Mn) (Ta, Nb) 2 O 6], tapiolite (FeTa 2 O 6), microlite [(Na, Ca) Ta 2 O 6 (O, OH, and F)], and euxenite [(Y, Ca, Ce, U, and Th) (Nb, Ta, and Ti) 2 O 6].The slag from tin smelting …