Researchers from the IIT, Ropar has detected tantalum, a rare metal used in manufacturing of electronic components, in the sands of Sutlej river

Tantalum, a rare metal used in the production of electronic components, has been found in the sands of the Sutlej River in Punjab by a team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar. A group led by Dr. Resmi Sebastian, an assistant professor at the institute's department of civil engineering, produced the finding. 

"The discovery of tantalum in Sutlej is not only significant for Punjab but for India, given its value in terms of its use in electronics and semi-conductors," Director of the Punjab Mining and Geology Department Abhijeet Kaplish stated. We are interested in learning the metal's quantum in the river. More in-depth research is probably going to clarify that.

A study article was released in January of this year following the July 2021 studies carried out by Dr. Sebastian's team. The results, which validate the existence of tantalum, are included in a socio-environmental sustainability plan for river sand mining that IIT-Ropar presented for the Punjab government.

The proposal, which is "of interest to government and associated industries," emphasises the existence of tantalum while mentioning the identification of rare metals and other elements found in Sutlej at several places in Punjab.

Dr. Sebastian stated that while the origin of tantalum in Sutlej is unknown, it may have come via tectonic plate movement in the Himalayan area, which is thought to contain the rare metal.