A spinning superconductor creates a magnetic field whose direction indicates its axis of rotation and therefore, in this case, that of the gyroscope of which the niobium is a part.
Helium-cooled superconducting coils, typically made of an alloy of niobium and titanium encased in copper cladding, create magnetic fields ten times stronger than similar-size permanent magnets can muster.
Kigali and Kampala are crawling with diamond dealers and others looking for Congo's rare minerals, such as tantalite and niobium.
These spheres have been polished so perfectly that, if they were magnified to be the size of the Earth, the blemishes on their surfaces would be less than five metres high.These perfect spheres are coated with niobium, a metal which, when kept close to absolute zero, is a superconductor.
The amphoteric metals of groups VB (vanadium, niobium, and tantalum) and VIB (chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten) in the +5 and +6 oxidation states, respectively, form weak acids that readily condense (polymerize) to form anions containing several molecules of the acid anhydride.
By the early 21st century Mozambique had become the world's largest extractor of tantalum and Brazil the largest producer of niobium.
This oxide may be reduced aluminothermically to produce niobium reguli (impure metallic globules), as in the production of ferroniobium.
After hydriding, the niobium is crushed and pulverized to fine powder, which is then reheated and dehydrided in a vacuum to produce niobium powder.
Also, when niobium exceeds its solubility limit in the steel matrix, it precipitates as a carbide or nitride, acting as a grain refiner and further improving the toughness and strength of the steel.
The reguli may be further purified by electron-beam melting into ingots, or they may be put through a hydriding and dehydriding process to produce niobium powder.
Deposits of gemstones, niobium, and soda ash are also mined, and there is potential for the exploitation of other mineral resources, including petroleum and natural gas.
