A team of Ghanaian researchers has discovered a new mineral, tantalum, at Bewadze-Mankoadze in the Kibi-Winneba Belt of southern Ghana. This mineral is found in significant quantities within an igneous rock known as pegmatite.
According to a report by Asaaseradio.com, the discovery is detailed in a paper authored by Dr. Emmanuel Daanoba Sunkari, a lecturer at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) in Tarkwa, Joshua Nkansah, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa (also of UMaT), and Salaam Jansbaka Adams of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development in Somanya.
The paper is titled “Geochemical Exploration for Tantalum in Coltan-Rich Pegmatites at Bewadze-Mankoadze Area of the Kibi-Winneba Belt, Southern Ghana: Constraints from Exploratory Data Analysis.”
Their study involved petrographic analysis of rock samples from pegmatite outcrops and statistical analysis of major and minor elements to identify pathfinder elements of the tantalum deposit.
Ten samples were collected from each town for whole-rock geochemistry, and thin sections were prepared for petrographic analysis.
The researchers found geochemical anomalies in the southwestern portion of the study area, suggesting that exploration for tantalum mineralization should focus there. Pegmatites are abundant in southern Ghana, particularly around Ewoyaa, Biriwa, Winneba, Bewadze, and Mankoadze.
The study contributes to the global transition to clean energy, as tantalum is crucial for producing capacitors used in renewable energy systems, such as solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles. The researchers noted that harnessing this tantalum deposit could boost Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings and support clean energy production.
Additionally, the tantalum-bearing pegmatites in the Bewadze-Mankoadze area contain other valuable minerals, including spodumene, beryl, and tourmaline.
Tantalum, with the symbol Ta and atomic number 73, is a shiny, silvery metal known for its corrosion resistance and ability to withstand chemical attacks below 150˚C. It is used in electronic components, high-temperature devices like aircraft engines, and has numerous medical and dental applications.