The mineral was discovered in the Bayan Obo deposit in Inner Mongolia (China) by a team from the National University of Singapore (NUS). It consists of niobium, barium, iron and chloride.
Chinese scientists stumble upon a previously unknown mineral. Live Science writes about it.
The material is called niobabbotite. Its uniqueness is that it contains a rare earth element – niobium. It is a precious metal that acts as a superconductor. The researchers believe the discovery could revolutionize battery technology.
Niobium is a light gray metal that is used today primarily in steelmaking, which makes it stronger without adding too much weight. Data from the Royal Society of Chemistry suggests that niobium is also used to make other alloys, such as those found in particle accelerators and other advanced scientific equipment. The main interest of scientists is focused on the fact that the metal is a superconductor at low temperatures,” the scientists added.
According to them, niobbotite is the 17th new type of ore discovered in the Bayan Obo deposit. It is among 150 new materials discovered in the region.
We remind you that earlier in South Korea, a janitor found seven gold bars in a trash can.
Source: korrespondent
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