Last week, Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3) expanded its critical minerals reach with the discovery of a niobium-rare earth carbonatite mineral system at its Overland Project in South Australia.
The discovery returned an intersection of 19m @ 0.61% total rare earth oxides (TREO) from 86m to end of hole, including 20% neodymium and praseodymium oxides and 1.70% dysprosium and terbium oxides. The mineralised interval remains open at depth.
Which opens the discussion: What is niobium?
Niobium is a ductile transition metal that is critical in the manufacturing industry for aerospace components, superconductors, and gas pipelines.
The metal is known for its strength and corrosion resistance, with even small amounts capable of hardening steel.
Shanghai Metals Market records niobium tantalum trading at US$60.32 ($86.34) per kilogram as of 15 July 2026, which represents a 0.02% decrease.
According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, niobium has ties back to Ancient Greece, with the metal being named after the tragic queen of Thebes, Niobe.
Niobe was the daughter of King Tantalus in Greek mythology, with the element’s name deriving from niobium’s similarities to tantalum, also named after the king.
The US Geological Survey describes niobium and tantalum as indispensable twins, as the two metals are almost always paired together.
Estimated global reserves and resources of niobium and tantalum are expected to be more than sufficient in meeting global demand for the foreseeable future, and possibly for the next 500 years.
Brazil, Canada, and Australia are the leading producers of niobium and tantalum mineral concentrates, with Brazil accounting for 90% of niobium mineral concentrates.
However, in Africa, Connected Minerals (ASX:CML) is focused on unearthing niobium and rare earth elements (REE).
Connected’s Bailundo Niobium and REE Project is situated in the Huambo province in central Angola.
Spanning 2,054km2, Bailundo is prospective for mineralisation associated with pyrochlore, which is a niobium-bearing mineral, as well as REE-bearing phases including phosphates and fluorocarbonates.
As a result of Connected acquiring Frontier Group, the company owns 80% of the project.
As reported by Mining.com.au, Connected acquired the project via an indirect interest in the holder of the Bailundo licence after entering a binding share sale agreement in May 2026.
Connected says Angola’s geology matches that of Brazil’s, due to the connection of Brazil and Angola prior to the break-up of Pangea that occurred around 130 million years ago during the Jurassic Period.
The two countries are reported to present mirrored geological features, including rock formations, mineral belts, and sedimentary basin development, making Angola geochemically and petrologically comparable to the Brazilian counterparts, Connected says.
Connected Minerals is an Australian company focused on the exploration and potential development of a portfolio of projects in Namibia, Angola, and Western Australia.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Chris Lund, National Film Board of Canada, James St. John, Connected Minerals & images-of-elements.com
