Ever since World War II began, the warring nations have been looking for an adequate source of tantalum. It is a superhard, noncorrosive metal that ranks just under gold, platinum and silver in value and is used in radar, machine tools, surgery.
Mere driblets came from mines in South Dakota and New Mexico. Most of the U.S. supply was flown in from Brazil, with a higher priority (A1) than admirals. Belgian Congo and Australia produced some tantalite ore, but shipping difficulties made it hard to get. Now a new source had been...
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