Lok Sabha Question No. 791 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Tantalum
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 791 ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## TANTALUM

## 791. SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the specification of tantalum;
- (b) whether it has been discovered by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar in Satluj, if so, the level of abundant of tantalum in the region;
- (c) whether the presence is sufficient for commercial extraction of the mineral and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether tantalum is a strategic mineral and if so, its value and terms of its use in electronics and semi-conductors;
- (e) whether there has been any research conducted on the samples of tantalum to determine its purity and commercial viability and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether the recently discovered deposits of lithium piqued the attention of America and China; and
- (g) if so, whether the Ministry is considering any policy/method to protect India's Rare-Earth minerals and secure it from being exploited by foreign countries?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

- (a):  Tantalum  (Ta)  is  a  high  melting  point  metal  with  good  conductivity,  excellent machinability and high stability in acidic environment. It is generally recovered as byproduct associated with niobium, tin, lithium etc.
- (b):  Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar (IIT Ropar) in one of its research papers has reported high tantalum values (10.52% mass) from the poorly graded sand/ subangular  particle  samples  from  the  Satluj  river  bank,  Punjab.  During  the  course  of geochemical  mapping  done  by  Geological  Survey  of  India  (GSI)  in  the  area,  the average value of tantalum in the sediment/floodplain samples vary between 1.08 ppm and 1.66 ppm  which are well below the average crustal abundance  of 2 ppm. Subsequent to the report of IIT Ropar, GSI has collected 4 sediment samples from the same locations for further analysis.
- (c): In view of (b) above, question does not arise.
- (d):  Tantalum bearing minerals are considered as critical and strategic minerals as per  Part-D  of  First  schedule  of  amended  Mines  and  Mineral  Development  and Regulations (MMDR) Act, 2023.

Tantalum is used in the production of electronic components mainly capacitors and  some  high-power  resistors.  Tantalum  capacitors  are  widely  used  in  portable telephones, personal computers, automotive electronics and cameras. Tantalum is also   used   to   produce   a variety of alloys that have high melting points, strength, and ductility.  Alloyed  with  other  metals,  it  is  also  used  in  making  carbide  tools  for metalworking  equipment  and  in  the  production of superalloys for jet engine components,  chemical  process  equipment,  nuclear  reactors,  missile  parts,  heat exchangers,  tanks,  and  vessels.  Tantalum  is  widely  used  in  making  surgical instruments and implants. (e): In view of (b) above, Question does not arise. (f): The Central Government has put two blocks of lithium for auction on 29 th  November 2023. (g): India's interest from being exploited by foreign countries in any sector, including minerals, is governed by provisions of policy on Foreign Direct Investment and Trade.

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