Science
Scientists Stunned By Discovery Of Ultra-Rare Metal Beneath Ancient River Bed
In India, a treasure trove of the world’s rarest metal has been discovered beneath an old river.
The significant discovery has the potential to permanently alter the tech industry’s destiny.
This follows the discovery of tantalum in the Sutlej River in India by a research team from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar, Punjab.
Due of the widespread usage of tantalum in the manufacturing of semiconductors and electronics, this discovery is very significant.
Speaking to the Indian Express, Dr Reshmi Sebastian, who led the team of researchers, said, “One of my research students found the presence of tantalum while conducting experiments on the characterisation of the Sutlej river sand.”
The crew was engaged on an unrelated research at the time, which involved examining the soil’s and rocks’ dynamic characteristics and how they withstand earthquakes.
But they were in for a surprise when the world’s rarest metal was discovered.
Abhijeet Kaplish, who is the Punjab Mining and Geology Department Director, said, “The discovery of tantalum in Sutlej is not only significant for Punjab but also for India, given its value in terms of its use in electronics and semiconductors.”
“We are curious to know the quantum of the metal in the river. Detailed studies are likely to shed more light on that.”
What actually is tantalum?
The uncommon metal, which is hard to handle and has a grey hue, is regarded as one of the most corrosion-resistant metals.
It may be stretched into a thin wire without breaking when it is in its pure state.
Anders Gustaf Ekenberg, a Swedish chemist, made the first discovery of the metal in 1802.
Before Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac discovered in 1866 that these were two distinct elements, the metal was once believed to be a type of niobium.
The Greek mythological character Tantalus, who was renowned for his immense fortune, inspired the name Tantalum.
What is the use of tantalum?
The metal is ideal for producing portable electronics like computers, cameras, and cellphones because it can store a lot of electricity without leaking too much.
It can be a less expensive substitute for platinum in jewellery and is also utilised in converters in automobiles.
Tantalum is also utilised in a variety of defence items, including chemical facilities, nuclear power plants, fighter jets, and missiles.
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