Background

        Niobium (Nb), a transition metal, is a member of the refractory metals, and is found world wide especially in rocks.  Refractory metals give off their colors by purely refracting light (Bentor, Yinon).  It is soft and has a shiny-white surface.  Niobium resist corrosion, can withstand high temperatures, is a good shock absorber, and can conduct electricity.  

      The isolation of ore is complicated because Niobium minerals usually contain both niobium as well as tantalum.  Since niobium and tantalum are so similar, it is difficult to separate them.  Niobium can be obtained be extracting ore, fusing the ore with alkali, and then extract the resulting substance into hydrofluoric acid.  Doing this could get rid of the tantalum that might be mixed with the niobium minerals (Bentor, Yinon). 

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