Niobium

resource:mineral:niobium

Niobium (Nb): refractory metal; primary use as microalloying addition to high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels for pipelines and automotive; also used in superconducting magnets (NbTi, Nb3Sn for MRI and particle accelerators). Brazil produces ~92% of global supply (CBMM, Araxá).