Niobaotite: new supermineral discovered by China

It looks like a mineral brought from outer space as it is a bright gray color that appears to shine, it is niobbaotite: new super mineral discovered China.

This element contains the rare earth element, popular for its superconducting properties.

Niobaotite is composed of niobium, barium, titanium, iron and chloride, the company said. South China Morning Post.

It’s niobium that’s causing a stir: this light gray metal is now used primarily in the production of steel, which can be hardened without adding much weight. Niobium is also used in the production of other alloys (materials made from mixtures of metals) and can be found in particle accelerators and other advanced scientific equipment because it is a superconductor at low temperatures, according to Royal Society of Chemistry.

The deposit was discovered on October 3 at the Bayan Obo ore deposit in Baotou city in Inner Mongolia. The brownish-black mineral is the 17th new type discovered at the deposit and one of 17 new minerals discovered in the region, according to China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

“Depending on the volume and quality of this niobium, it could make China self-sufficient,” he said. to the newspaper Antonio J. Castro NetoProfessor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Safer batteries with niobbaotite

The metal could also be in high demand in the future as researchers work to develop niobium-lithium and niobium-graphene batteries.

In accordance with S&P Global, these batteries may reduce the risk of fire when used in conjunction with lithium. Niobium-lithium batteries also charge faster and can be charged more frequently than traditional lithium batteries.