Tantalum

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar has detected the presence of tantalum, a rare metal, in the Sutlej river sand in Punjab.

Sutlej River is longest of the 5 tributaries of the Indus River that give the Punjab (meaning “Five Rivers”) region its name. 80% of the catchment area of River Sutlej is in China.

Tantalum – A chemical element with symbol Ta and atomic number 73 in the periodic table.
It is very hard, ductile, lustrous, bluish-grey transition metal that is highly corrosion resistant.
It has a melting point of 5,463 °F (2,996 °C), the 4^th highest of all metals.
It is one of the 12 critical and strategic minerals according to the annual report of the Union Ministry of Mines for 2020-21.

Critical mineral is a metallic or non-metallic element that is essential for the functioning of our modern technologies, economies or national security. They are 30 in number in India.

Applications
- Production of electronic components
- In the making of surgical implants
- Can replace bone, connect torn nerves and bind abdominal muscle
- As electrodes for neon lights and in glass for special lenses
- High-temperature applications, such as aircraft engines

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