Tantalum is a rare, hard, blue-gray metal that occurs naturally in the mineral tantalite.  It is a metal highly resistant to corrosion, which makes it a valuable asset for producing electronic equipment.  It is part of the refractory metals group; largely used as minor components in alloys.

One valuable characteristic of tantalum is its inertness, which makes it quite valuable for laboratory and other electronic equipment. Tantalum is mainly used in the form of a metal powder in the production of electronic components, capacitors, and high power resistors. These components are in turn used in telephones, personal computers and automobile electronics, to name a few.

Other uses include super-alloys for jet engine components, chemical process equipment, nuclear reactors, and missile parts.  In such cases tantalum is used because of its high melting points, strength, and good ductility.