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Coltan is a metallic ore from which the very similar elements niobium, also known as columbium, and tantalum are extracted. Coltan mining specifically in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been associated with human rights violations. ==About== The coltan industry is worth billions of dollars per year. Prices for coltan range between $50 and $200 per pound〔Molinski 2012〕- and has undergone a series of radical location shifts since its inception. In 2006, Australia, Brazil, and Canada produced 80% of the world’s coltan,〔Melcher et. al 2008, p.1〕 but as mining trends and costs change, so too does the industry’s centers. As of 2012, coltan’s main producers are Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mozambique, and Democratic Republic of Congo via Rwanda, countries that produce about 66% of the world’s coltan.〔USGS 2012, p. 163〕 Additional coltan reserves have been found all over the world on every continent except Antarctica. It is believed that sufficient reserves exist in developed countries, but for a variety of reasons, the burden of the world’s coltan needs is falling on undeveloped countries and conflict regions. Currently, coltan products are sold in private, unregulated markets,〔Diaz-Struck and Poliszuk 2012〕 unlike metals such as gold, copper, zinc, and tin. This means that there are no standards for mining operations and any safety procedures must come from the mine owners or their home countries. The United Nations has taken an active role in assessing the state of the world’s coltan industry and has cited numerous countries with ethical violations in relationship to coltan mining. Due to the nature of the mining and the number of ore deposits in conflict zones and third-world countries, coltan mining is a highly ethically contentious field.〔 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmfjyh_le-coltan-genere-la-pauvrete-et-tue-en-rdc_news?search_algo=2#.UWky3EqFPYQ〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Coltan mining and ethics」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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