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With this company we will have to study all Periodic Table of the Elements all over again. Back to school. We need to have our homework right in order to stay in this game, like Jay Taylor does when he looks at the companies. Today we will look again at Tantalum market. First, lets remind ourselves about Tantalum as an element and its use.


"About Tantalum

Tantalum is an element found in many ways in our everyday lives, improving technology and material performance. Its many applications include uses in electronics, medicine, engineering and energy generation. Tantalum was discovered by Anders Gustaf Ekenberg, a Swedish chemist, in 1802 in minerals obtained from Ytterby, Sweden. Many scientists believed that he had only discovered an allotrope of niobium, an element that is chemically similar to tantalum. The issue was finally settled in 1866 when, Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac, a Swiss chemist, proved that tantalum and niobium were two distinct elements. The first relatively pure samples of tantalum were first produced in 1907. Today, tantalum is primarily obtained from the minerals columbite ((Fe, Mn, Mg)(Nb, Ta)2O6), tantalite ((Fe, Mn)(Ta, Nb)2O6) and euxenite ((Y, Ca, Er, La, Ce, U, Th)(Nb, Ta, Ti)2O6).Tantalum has unique attributes that make it suitable for several specific purposes. It has an exceedingly high melting point (about 3,000° C), is highly corrosion-resistant, alloys well with other metals, is superconductive for electricity and, most importantly, has an excellent capacity to store and release an electrical charge. Uses for TantalumAbout half of the tantalum consumed each year is used in the electronics industry, mainly as powder and wire for capacitors, owing to tantalum's particular ability to store and release electrical energy. This allows components to be exceptionally small and they are therefore favoured in space-sensitive high-end applications in telecommunications, data storage and implantable medical devices. Tantalum is also used for electronic sound filters and as a barrier against copper diffusion in semi-conductors. Tantalum carbide's hardness makes it ideal for cutting tools.
Tantalum metal and tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5), one of tantalum's compounds, are mainly used in electronics to make a part called a capacitor. It allows the capacitors to be very small and is ideal for high technology uses including digital cameras and video cameras, mobile phones, laptop computers, LCD/Plasma televisions, and data storage devices. While the bulk of demand for tantalum capacitors comes from the handheld and gaming markets, as designers cram greater functionality into these ever-shrinking devices, there has also been quite a bit of activity in high reliability markets including military, automotive and medical that require higher performance components. Tantalum capacitors are also in car electronics such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS), navigation systems, wheel traction control, airbag inflation, engine management and fuel economy. Medical uses include heart pacemakers, implanted auto-defibrillators and hearing aids.Tantalum is a strong, ductile metal that is nearly immune to chemical attack at room temperatures. It can be drawn into a fine wire that is used to evaporate metals, such as aluminum. It has a high melting point and is frequently used as a substitute for platinum, which is more expensive. Tantalum is used to make components for chemical plants, nuclear power plants, airplanes and missiles. Tantalum does not react with bodily fluids and is used to make surgical equipment. Tantalum also does not irritate the body and is used to make surgical sutures as well as implants, such as artificial joints and cranial plates. Tantalum is alloyed with steel to increase steel's ductility, strength and melting point.It is also used to make a glass with a high index of refraction that is used in camera lenses. A composite consisting of tantalum carbide (TaC) and graphite is one of the hardest materials known and is used on the cutting edges of high-speed machine tools.

The two main buyers of tantalum raw materials are the processors HC Starck GmbH and Cabot Corp. Other processors include those located in China (Ningxia Non-ferrous Metals Import and Export Corp., Jiujiang Tanbre Smelter, Jiujiang Jinxin Non-ferrous Metals Co Ltd.), Estonia (AS Silmet), Japan (Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co Ltd.), Kazakhstan (NAC Kazatomprom) and Russia (Solikamsk Magnesium Works).

Tantalum ores are found primarily in Australia, Canada, Brazil, and central Africa, with some additional quantities originating in southeast Asia. The average yearly growth rate of about 8% to 12% in tantalum demand since about 1995 has caused a significant increase in exploration for this element. Tantalum minerals of the greatest economic importance are tantalite, microlite, and wodginite; however, it is common practice to name any tantalum-containing mineral concentrate as 'tantalite' primarily because it will be processed for the tantalum values and is sold on that basis. Tantalum mineral concentrates may contain from two to more than five different tantalum-bearing minerals from the same mining area. The sale of tantalum mineral concentrates is based on a certified analysis for the tantalum oxide they contain, with a range from 10% or 15% to over 60% depending on the mine source. The single largest source of tantalum mineral concentrates is the production by Talison Minerals Pty Ltd. from its mine in Western Australia. They produce between 25% and 35% of the world's supply, with production reported at approximately 1.4 million pounds Ta2O5. Additional operating mines are the Tanco Mine (Cabot) in Manitoba, Canada, the Kenticha Mine (Ethiopia Minerals Development Authority) in Ethiopia, the Yichun Mine in China, and the Pitinga Mine (Paranapanema) and Mibra Mine (Metallurg) in Brazil. Additional quantities are available from Brazil through the processing of small alluvial deposits by prospectors and in numerous countries in Africa such as Rwanda, Namibia, Uganda, DRC, Gabon, Nigeria, South Africa, and Burundi. Due to political instability and associated risk, mining investment in Africa has been significantly curtailed. The central African countries of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC-Kinshasa) and Rwanda and their neighbors in the past had been the source of significant tonnages. Civil war, plundering of national parks and exporting of minerals, diamonds and other natural resources to provide funding of militias has caused the organizations such as the Tantalum-Niobium International Study Center to call on its members to take care to obtain their raw materials from lawful sources. Members are strongly encouraged to refrain from purchasing materials from regions where either human welfare or wildlife are threatened.

Unlike other metals, tantalum does not trade as a commodity in recognized metal markets. Consequently, tantalum trades in negotiated markets. This leaves considerable power with suppliers particularly during an up market.

Tantalum capacitors are used by many large international corporations:
Wireless Users:
Sony Corporation
Nokia
Motorola Inc.
Panasonic Infrastructure Users:
Cisco Systems Inc.
Nortel Networks Corporation Computer Hardware Users:
Intel Corporation
Hewlett-Packard Company
IBM
Dell Computer Corporation
Compaq Computer Corporation
Seagate Technology Inc."

We will add, that with Electrification and Electric Cars in their mass market phase Demand for Tantalum will increase with all high tech gadgets implemenmted in EVs and smart grid technology with Solar and wind Power energy control systems applications.

The western world could be facing a severe shortage of tantalum over the next few years according to a recent study from Roskill Information Services in the UK.

Author: Lawrence Williams Posted: Wednesday , 23 Sep 2009

LONDON -
According to a new special study report from UK metals research consultancy, Roskill Information Services, there are fears in the tantalum market that serious shortages are looming. Weak recent demand has kept prices low. As a consequence primary output has been cut dramatically and processors are increasingly relying on stock drawdowns to make up the shortfall. If there is even a modest recovery in demand for tantalum in the near future, the market faces a difficult period.
Tantalum's major usage at present is in the production of electronic components, mainly capacitors and some high-power resistors. Because of the size and weight advantages, tantalum capacitors are attractive for mobile telephones, personal computers, and automotive electronics. Tantalum is also used to produce a variety of alloys that have high melting points, are strong and have good 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, and for the military. Due to the fact that it resists attack by body fluids and is nonirritating, tantalum is widely used in making surgical instruments and implants. For example, porous tantalum coatings are used in the construction of orthopaedic implants due to the metal's ability to form a direct bond to hard tissue.
A key issue in the tantalum market, says Roskill, has been the continuing supply of low-cost columbite-tantalite (coltan) mined in Central Africa, in the DRC and Rwanda, mostly illegally, and sold to fund rebel militias. The major processors will not knowingly buy such material and almost all of it goes to China. The availability of large and growing quantities of cheap tantalum, at a time when global demand for consumer electronics is down and processors are holding substantial raw material stocks, has, however, placed the conventional tantalum industry under great pressure. Unable to win the large increase in prices it needed to be economic, the world's largest primary producer, Talison in Australia, suspended mining operations in late 2008. It was soon followed by two others. Within the space of a few months, close to 40% of global primary tantalum capacity was taken out of the market. There are no guarantees as to when, or even if, it will be brought back into production.
However, Roskill reckons that the market remains well-supplied in the immediate short term. A key characteristic of the tantalum industry in recent years has been that supply has nearly always been greater than demand. As a result, large inventories have been built up at most levels of the supply chain. Those stocks are not inexhaustible. In addition, the US strategic stockpile has gone for good and there are questions as how long tin slags can continue to constitute an important tantalum feedstock.
As has been the case in the past, processors are increasingly turning to scrap and other forms of secondary tantalum. Their receipts of secondary material grew by 70% in 2007 and by a further 25% in 2008. The growing use of scrap is evident in trade data.
The tantalum processing industry is attempting to develop systems to keep coltan out of the market by providing ways to physically indentify it before it is processed and becomes untraceable. Some processors are more committed to this than others, and the system is not yet fully in place, but the industry in general is facing mounting pressure from capacitor manufacturers and OEMs to ensure that coltan is not used. It is quite likely that the supply of coltan to the market will fall sharply over the next year or two.
What will compensate for the likely supply shortfall? Production is being expanded in several countries but probably not by enough to replace the coltan. Numerous new tantalum-niobium projects are in the pipeline and several would be very large producers. The big question is when they will come on-stream. Of the three mega-projects, one was originally planned to come into production in 2006, while another has been held up for over two years by red tape. The third may come into production in 2011.
The global economic downturn had a very marked effect on the tantalum supply/demand balance. Demand in 2009 will very probably prove to be 40% down on 2008, but Roskill considers it will fully recover by 2012, although much will obviously depend on the continuing strength of any global economic revival. Whether or not sufficient supply will be in place to meet that demand recovery is another issue entirely.
As Roskill summarises, a large part of the primary supply chain is not producing in 2009 and there are no clear indications as to when, or if, it will come back to the market. Inventories are running down, scrap is in shorter supply because of a fall in capacitor manufacture and it is quite possible that legislation under consideration in the USA could severely restrict or even halt the supply of tantalum from Central Africa.
It is almost certain therefore, Roskill reckons, that a tantalum supply squeeze is approaching. If demand picks up faster than expected, a spike in spot prices seems inevitable. Stability will probably not return to the market until the new projects come on-stream, or consumers accept contract prices at a level sufficient for Australia's Talison to reopen its mining operation.
For full details of the Roskill report go to www.roskill.com/reports/tantalum"

"The Electrification Roadmap presents a bold and specific vision: By 2040, 75 percent of light-duty vehicle miles traveled in the United States should be electric miles. As a result, oil consumption in the light-duty fleet would be reduced by more than 75 percent, and U.S. crude oil imports could effectively be reduced to zero."

TNR Gold reports another significant success of International Lithium Corp. exploration program on Mavis Lake, Ontario. Jay Taylor does his homework right and now we can see why he has suggested recently:

Our main take out from the news:

"We are observing both high-grade well-evolved Lithium and Tantalum zonation as well as significant levels of Cesium and Rubidium on the Mavis Lake property," states Gary Schellenberg, President and CEO of TNR Gold, and continues, "The project is clearly emerging as a premier multi-element rare metals project and warrants a major exploration program in 2010."

Dr. Frederick Breaks, Special Advisor for TNR Gold, stated, "The peak tantalum values observed are amongst the highest reported in north western Ontario and when taken in conjunction with the strong widespread nature of the mineralization, this indicates significant exploration potential at the Mavis Lake property."

Now we have a hint where will be exploration efforts of TNR Gold in 2010 in hard rock lithium part of its portfolio.

Mavis Lake Rare Metals project is growing from staking stage into significant exploration target. Hard rock lithium mining, as you remember, includes the crucial element of necessary credit from other metals and minerals, which could make the potential deposit economical even with recent level of prices for lithium.

These discoveries of high Tantalum values, presence of Cesium and Rubidium are making this property a valuable exploration target.

Values of lithium and tantalum and types of minerals found on the property are similar to two producing mines: Tanco mine and Wodgina mine.

Next step will be to confirm exploration model by drilling program on the property in order to find available tonnage of mineralised material and its grade, which will define economics of potential deposit.

There is another significant indication of potential for Mavis Lake property: next to it on the left side on the map is located a historical resource with 500k tones of 1% Li2O in the same geological setting. Size of the property is not limiting exploration potential for economic tonnage to be discovered by further exploration. Tantalum enrichement zone defined by this exploration program is located to the right side of the property after known Lithium enrichment zone.

Mavis Lake project enjoys easy access and infrastracture availible for further development in the area.

TNR Gold/International Lithium Reports Significant Tantalum Mineralization at the Rare Metals Mavis Lake Project, Ont
Press Release

Source: TNR Gold Corp.
On 6:20 pm EST, Wednesday December 9, 2009
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Dec. 9, 2009) - TNR Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:TNR - News; "TNR" or the "Company") and wholly-owned International Lithium Corp. ("ILC") are pleased to announce results of the 2009 fall field program demonstrating strong and widespread tantalum mineralization on its 100% owned Mavis Lake property located 15km northeast of Dryden in northwestern Ontario.

"We are observing both high-grade well-evolved Lithium and Tantalum zonation as well as significant levels of Cesium and Rubidium on the Mavis Lake property," states Gary Schellenberg, President and CEO of TNR Gold, and continues, "The project is clearly emerging as a premier multi-element rare metals project and warrants a major exploration program in 2010."
2009 Sampling Programs
Two field programs were undertaken in 2009 to assess the lithium (Li), tantalum (Ta) and other rare metals potential of the Mavis Lake property. The initial field program consisted of reconnaissance prospecting and sampling. Samples collected from Pegmatite 18 returned strong results for both Ta and Li with peak assay values of 3.61 Wt% Li2O (lithium oxide) in a grab sample and 1.24 Wt% Li2O over 5.3 metres in a composite channel sample (Company News Release - October 5th 2009).
The follow-up program consisted of detailed mapping and sampling of the known pegmatite occurrences that returned high grade lithium values up to 2.1 wt% Li2O in grab sample and 1.4 wt% Li2O over a 4.7 metre composite channel sample. In addition, a lithogeochemical survey over a 1200m by 900m grid extended the lithium dispersion anomaly (greater than 50 ppm Li) by 1.1kms to 4.5kms in total length (Company News Release - November 19th, 2009). Of special note, 38% (78 of 204 samples) graded better than 150 ppm Ta2O5 (tantalum oxide) demonstrating strong and widespread highly anomalous Tantalum mineralization.
The highest tantalum values came from Pegmatites 13, 14 and 16 which occur within an area of 500 by 800 metres that represents the known southeastern exploration limit for rare metal mineralization on the property. This highly prospective area of elevated tantalum values is underexplored and completely open to the east and southeast and will be the major subject of field investigation in 2010. Samples from this area returned peak Ta2O5 values of 1349 ppm (0.135%) and 1246 ppm (0.125%) from the No.16 and No.14 pegmatites, respectively.
Dr. Frederick Breaks, Special Advisor for TNR Gold, stated, "The peak tantalum values observed are amongst the highest reported in north western Ontario and when taken in conjunction with the strong widespread nature of the mineralization, this indicates significant exploration potential at the Mavis Lake property."
Other highlights include Ta2O5 values of 723 ppm, 614 ppm and 593 ppm from the No.13, No.17 and No.19 pegmatites, respectively (see Table 1).

Samples with very high tantalum values tend to have low lithium values as is typical of sodic aplite and albitite-rock units that represent important host-rocks for tantalum mineralization as exemplified by the Tanco Mine in Manitoba and the Wodgina and Greenbushes Mines of Western Australia. However, there are samples with very high lithium values that also carry strongly anomalous tantalum. Examples of this strong multi-element signature can be found in both grab samples in Table 1 and channel samples of Table 2.
Tantalum mineralization occurs as fine-grained tantalite-columbite group minerals that are hosted primarily in sodic aplite and related albitite (greater than 8 wt% Na2O). Other tantalum-rich minerals may also be present as previous work confirmed wodginite associated with tantalite, columbite, lithium tourmaline and montebrasite at pegmatite 19 (Ontario Geological Survey, 2000 Miscellaneous Release Data 127).
Wodginite is the chief ore mineral for tantalum at the Tanco and Wodgina mines. The Tanco Mine had a historical reserve estimate of 1,879,000 tons grading 0.216% Ta2O5 and has proven to be a world class producer of tantalum, lithium, cesium and rubidium. The Wodgina mine has proven historical reserves of 0.4 million tonnes grading 0.128% Ta2O5. The high-tonnage low-grade Greenbushes mine contains proven and probable reserves of 88.6 million tonnes @ 0.022% Ta2O5.
To view Figure 1 please click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/tnr1209.jpg
Mavis Lake Property
The Mavis Lake property is located 15 km Northeast of Dryden, Ontario. It is easily accessed via the Trans-Canada Highway and a series of logging roads. The claim block comprises a total of 2,544 ha and covers several known rare metal pegmatites.
Regional pegmatite mineralization is directly associated with the strongly peraluminous Ghost Lake pluton and related pegmatitic granite dykes. Rare metal mineralization in the Mavis Lake area occurs in zoned pegmatites hosted by mafic metavolcanic rocks. Rare metal mineralization has been noted to occur in four zones: internal beryl zone within the parent of the Ghost Lake pluton that evolves into external zones of beryl-columbite, spodumene-beryl-tantalite and albite-type pegmatites.
The known pegmatite dykes on the Mavis Lake property comprise spodumene-beryl-tantalite, albite-type or a combination of both. The adjacent Fairservice property is dominated by east trending spodumene-beryl-tantalite-type pegmatites, considered to be part of the same dyke swarm as on the Mavis Lake claim block, and has a historical (non NI 43-101 compliant) resource of 500,000 tons at 1.0% Li2O.
Ike Osmani, P.Geo, is the company's qualified person on the project as required under NI 43-101 and has reviewed the technical information contained in this press release. To help understand the technical aspects of Lithium and other Rare Metals please visit TNR's website at www.tnrgoldcorp.com.

ABOUT TNR GOLD / INTERNATIONAL LITHIUM CORP.

TNR is a diversified metals exploration company focused on exploring existing properties and identifying new prospective projects globally. TNR has a total portfolio of 33 properties, of which 16 will be included in the proposed spin-off of International Lithium Corp.
It is anticipated that TNR shareholders of record will receive up to one share and one full tradable warrant of International Lithium Corp. for every 4 shares of TNR held as of the yet determined record date. This will result in TNR shareholders owning shares in both TNR and International Lithium. For further details of the spin-off please refer to TNR's April 27, 2009 news release or visit http://www.internationallithium.com.
The recent acquisition of lithium, other rare metals and rare-earth elements projects in Argentina, Canada, USA and Ireland confirms the company's commitment to generating projects , diversifying its markets, and building shareholder value.
On behalf of the board,
Gary Schellenberg, President"