Dios Exploration

Niobium is a metal that resists corrosion and maintains excellent physical properties at high temperatures. About 90% of niobium world production is used in the production of high-grade structural steel, and 10% is used in the super-alloys (for the aero-spatial and automobile industries, gas pipelines, turbine blades, nuclear reactors, etc…). A small part is also used in the super conductors (electronic). Economic quantities of niobium are contained in pyrochlore and columbite. Pyrochlore is a niobium-rich complex oxyde mineral of calcium and sodium.

The two world`s largest deposits of pyrochlore are the Araxa and Catalao open-pit mines in Brazil. They (Araxo resources: 460 MT @ 2.5% N2O5; Catalao resources: 15 MT @ 1.34% N2O5) respectively supply 65-70% and 14-18% of the world demand for niobium.

The third significant niobium mining operation is IAMGOLD`s Niobec underground mine near St-Honore, Quebec. The Niobec mine (resources: 24.3 MT @0.66% N2O5) contains both pyrochlore and columbite and it is the only producer of niobium in North America. It produces 8% of the world supply for niobium.