By- Srushti sharma
Chinese scientists have discovered kind of ore that contains a rare earth element that is highly sought after for its superconductive qualities.
The ore, known as niobobaotite, is composed of niobium, barium, titanium, iron, and chloride.
Nowadays, steel is primarily made from this light grey metal, which strengthens it without significantly increasing its weight.
it is also utilised to make other alloys and is present in particle accelerators and other cutting-edge scientific apparatus.
On October 3, the deposit was discovered in the Bayan Obo ore deposit in the Inner Mongolian city of Baotou.
Of the 150 new minerals discovered in the area, the brownish-black ore is the seventeenth new variety discovered in the deposit.
China, which presently imports 95% of its niobium, may benefit greatly from the discovery.
"Depending on the volume and quality of this niobium it could make China self-sufficient,"
The development of niobium-lithium and niobium-graphene batteries by researchers could lead to an increase in the metal's demand in the future.