[SMM Tantalum News] The Tajik Geological Survey has stated that newly discovered rare earth metal tantalum and niobium ore deposits in Tajikistan could reshape the country's mining industry and economic prospects. Ilkhom Oymukhammadzoda, the Director of the Strategic Discovery Geology Administration in the Rasht Valley, announced that based on the analysis of 125 samples collected from the Nazaraylok and Yosuman regions, substantial niobium and tantalum ore reserves have been discovered in the Rasht Valley. Tantalum is crucial for the electronics manufacturing industry, while niobium is used in high-strength alloys for the aerospace and construction industries. The strategic importance of these two metals is growing. Oymukhammadzoda also confirmed that 15 additional ore sites rich in rare metals such as lithium, niobium, and tantalum have been identified in remote eastern regions, including Karasu, Agbasoy, Pyron, and Rohshif. Ore sites like Kolkhozabad, Taglikhas, and Vez-Dara have shown traces of rubidium and other rare elements vital to high-tech industries. Economic Potential and National Strategy Geological surveys are funded by the state, focusing on assessing the reserves of strategic resources. One of the most promising ore sites is Nazaraylok, with preliminary projections indicating that its niobium and tantalum reserves could reach hundreds of thousands of mt.
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