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Which countries have large columbite deposits?
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niobium processing
Four one-millimetre thick samples of niobium metal foil.
Large deposits of columbite are found in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa). Additionally, columbite concentrates are frequently obtained as by-products of tin mining operations in Nigeria. While columbite is a significant source of niobium, it is important to note that most columbite deposits are relatively small and erratically distributed, often requiring them to be mined as by-products of other metals.1