Tracing the Tantalum Trade–Part One

Major electronics firms claim the supply chains for their products are complex and difficult to unravel. But, NGOs say research conducted by themselves and the United Nations proves otherwise.

However, the advancements in technology tantalum offers come at a very high price. Tantalum has the unfortunate distinction of belonging to a class of metals known as “conflict minerals”, particularly the three T’s:  tin, tungsten and tantalum;  all of which are mined under soul-crushing conditions in the eastern provinces of the DR-Congo.