coltan
Phone mineral ore
Coltan is a metallic ore from which tantalum and niobium are extracted—minerals essential for capacitors in smartphones, laptops, and other electronics.
Most coltan comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where its mining has been linked to armed conflict, environmental destruction, and exploitative labor practices.
The name blends colombite and tantalite, the two minerals that compose the ore.
Charge-storing circuit components
- smartphonesHandheld touchscreen computers
- laptopsMobile personal computers
- batteriesPortable energy storage units
- conductivityAbility to carry current
thermal · resistors · semiconductors · circuitry · microchips · processors · motherboards · tablets
Metal-bearing rock
- extractionAct of removing
- artisanalMade by skilled craftspeople
- depositPlace for safekeeping
- veinVessel toward heart
lode · prospecting · drilling · blasting · quarrying · diggers · smelting · refining
Selfish use of others
- militiaNon-professional armed force
- violenceHarmful physical force
- warlordsMilitary leaders controlling regions
- smugglingIllegal covert transport
black-market · sanctions · traceability · certification · Dodd-Frank · supply-chain · accountability · transparency
Metallic element, atomic forty-one
- oxideOxygen-bonded compound
- geologyStudy of Earth's composition
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
- metamorphicUndergoing structural change
alloy · metallurgy · composition · density · corrosion-resistant · refractory · cassiterite · wolframite
DRC's capital city
- RwandaEast-Central African nation
- DRCCentral African republic, abbr.
- gorillasLargest living primates
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
biodiversity · subsistence · poverty · cassiterite · wolframite
Uncommon occurrence
- depletionReduction of supply
- shortageDeficient supply of necessities
- nonrenewableCannot be replaced naturally
- demandForceful request or requirement
stockpiling · supply-chain · recycling · substitution · geopolitical · monopoly · hoarding · reserves
capacitors
Charge-storing circuit components
- smartphonesHandheld touchscreen computers
- laptopsMobile personal computers
- batteriesPortable energy storage units
conductivity · thermal · resistors · semiconductors · circuitry · microchips · processors · motherboards · tablets · cameras
ore
Metal-bearing rock
- extractionAct of removing
- artisanalMade by skilled craftspeople
- depositPlace for safekeeping
vein · lode · prospecting · drilling · blasting · quarrying · diggers · smelting · refining · processing
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- militiaNon-professional armed force
- violenceHarmful physical force
- warlordsMilitary leaders controlling regions
smuggling · black-market · sanctions · traceability · certification · Dodd-Frank · supply-chain · accountability · transparency
niobium
Metallic element, atomic forty-one
- oxideOxygen-bonded compound
- geologyStudy of Earth's composition
- crystallineClear, ordered, brilliant
metamorphic · alloy · metallurgy · composition · density · corrosion-resistant · refractory · cassiterite · wolframite
Kinshasa
DRC's capital city
rainforest · biodiversity · subsistence · poverty · cassiterite · wolframite
rarity
Uncommon occurrence
- depletionReduction of supply
- shortageDeficient supply of necessities
- nonrenewableCannot be replaced naturally
demand · stockpiling · supply-chain · recycling · substitution · geopolitical · monopoly · hoarding · reserves