ElementNiobium
SymbolNb
Atomic Mass92.90638
Atomic Number41
Name OriginsGreek, Niobe = daughter of Tantalus
Year Discovered1801
Discovered CreditsDiscovered by C. Hatchett at London, UK
RemarksShiny silvery metal, soft when pure. Resists corrosion due to oxide film, attacked by hot, concentrated acids but resists fused alkalis. Used in stainless steels and super-conductor alloys. The element was formerly known as columbium.
Diagnostic TestsAn acid solution boiled with metallic tin gives a blue color which slowly changes to brown on continued boiling and disappears on dilution. Most flux reactions are not very good. Absorption Spectroscopy is used for quantitative analysis and Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays (EDAX) is used for qualitative analysis.
ReferencesEmsley, J., 1991; THE ELEMENTS : Sec. Ed., Clarendon Press, Oxford, 251 p.

Naturally Ocurring Isotopes :

Mass Nuclide Number Natural Abundance Half-life Half-life Unit Decay Mode Decay Mode MeV Decay Mode %
92.906377 93 100 % Stable

157 Minerals sorted by % of Nb (Niobium) :

Lueshite56.69 %NaNbO3
Natroniobite56.69 %NaNbO3
Ferrocolumbite55.03 %Fe++Nb2O6
Edgarite52.89 %FeNb3S6
Pyrochlore52.51 %(Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F)
Kalipyrochlore52.07 %(H2O,Sr)(Nb,Ti)(O,OH)6·(H2O,K)
Hochelagaite50.58 %(Ca,Na,Sr)Nb4O11·8(H2O)
Franconite49.17 %Na2Nb4O11·9(H2O)
Ternovite49.10 %(Mg,Ca)Nb4O11-n(H2O) where n ~ 10
Bariopyrochlore48.68 %(Ba,Sr)(Nb,Ti)2(O,OH)7
Magnocolumbite47.79 %(Mg,Fe++,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6
Niobo-aeschynite-(Ce)44.22 %(Ce,Ca)(Nb,Ti)2(O,OH)6
Mongolite41.84 %Ca4Nb6Si5O24(OH)10·5(H2O)
Niobo-aeschynite-(Nd)39.26 %(Nd,Ce)(Nb,Ti)2(O,OH)6
Strontiopyrochlore39.11 %Sr2Nb2(O,OH)7
Changbaiite38.00 %PbNb2O6
Fergusonite-beta-(Y)37.80 %YNbO4
Fergusonite-(Y)37.80 %YNbO4
Isolueshite34.42 %(Na,La,Ca)(Nb,Ti)O3
Sodium-komarovite33.49 %(Na,Ca,H)4Nb4Si4O12O8(OH,F)4·2(H2O)
Stibiocolumbite33.34 %SbNbO4
Komarovite33.26 %(Ca,Mn)2(Nb,Ti)2Si2O7(O,F)2·3.5(H2O)
Euxenite-(Y)33.16 %(Y,Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
Manganocolumbite32.94 %(Mn,Fe++)(Nb,Ta)2O6
Niobocarbide32.83 %(Nb,Ta)C
Foordite31.35 %Sn++(Nb,Ta)2O6
Fergusonite-(Ce)31.29 %(Ce,La,Y)NbO4
Gerasimovskite30.37 %(Mn,Ca)(Nb,Ti)5O12·9(H2O) (?)
Latrappite30.11 %(Ca,Na)(Nb,Ti,Fe)O3
Fergusonite-beta-(Nd)29.30 %(Nd,Ce)NbO4
Qitianlingite28.97 %Fe++2Nb2W++++++O10
Fergusonite-beta-(Ce)28.95 %(Ce,La,Nd)NbO4
Calciobetafite28.27 %Ca2(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)7
Fergusonite-(Nd)27.82 %(Nd,Ce)(Nb,Ti)O4
Bismutocolumbite27.72 %Bi(Nb,Ta)O4
Liandratite27.31 %U++++++(Nb,Ta)2O8
Plumbopyrochlore26.87 %(Pb,Y,U,Ca)2-xNb2O6(OH)
Belkovite26.40 %Ba3(Nb,Ti)6(Si2O7)2O12
Vuoriyarvite-K25.56 %(K,Na)2(Nb,Ti)2Si4O12(O,OH)2·4(H2O)
Samarskite-(Y)24.79 %(Y,Fe+++,U)(Nb,Ta)5O4
Bismutopyrochlore24.76 %(Bi,U,Ca,Pb)1+x(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)·n(H2O)
Fersmite24.75 %(Ca,Ce,Na)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(O,OH,F)6
Yttropyrochlore-(Y)24.45 %(Y,Na,Ca,U)1-2(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(O,OH)7
Epistolite24.20 %Na5Ti+++Nb2Si4O12O5F·5(H2O)
Ishikawaite23.66 %(U,Fe,Y,Ca)(Nb,Ta)O4 (?)
Yttrocolumbite-(Y)23.49 %(Y,U,Fe++)(Nb,Ta)O4
Schiavinatoite23.01 %(Nb,Ta)BO4
Wolframoixiolite22.94 %(Fe,Mn,Nb)(Nb,W,Ta)O4
IMA2001-02822.74 %(Na,Ca,K)2Ca(Nb,Ti)4(Si4O12)2(O,OH)4·7(H2O)
Vigezzite22.46 %(Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6
IMA2001-00922.44 %K2(H2O)2(Fe,Mn)[(Nb,Ti)4(Si4O12)2(O,OH)4]·4H2O
IMA2001-00622.26 %K2Zn(Nb,Ti)4(Si4O12)2(O,OH)4·6H2O
Ashanite21.82 %(Nb,Ta,U,Fe,Mn)4O8
Nenadkevichite21.11 %(Na,Ca,K)(Nb,Ti)Si2O6(O,OH)·2(H2O)
Koragoite21.07 %(Mn++,Fe+++)3(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(Nb,Mn)2(W,Ta)2O20
Ilmenorutile19.50 %(Ti,Nb,Fe+++)O2
Uranpyrochlore18.88 %(U,Ca,Ce)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F)
Calciotantite17.25 %Ca(Ta,Nb)4O11
Vuonnemite16.91 %Na11Nb2TiSi4O12(PO4)2O5F2
Johnwalkite15.45 %K(Mn++,Fe+++,Fe++)2(Nb,Ta)(PO4)2O2((H2O),OH)2
Stibiobetafite14.99 %(Sb+++,Ca)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2(O,OH)7
Polycrase-(Y)14.95 %(Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th)(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6
Kobeite-(Y)14.47 %(Y,U)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6 (?)
Sitinakite14.12 %Na2K(Ti,Nb)4O4(SiO4)2(O,OH)·4(H2O)
Shkatulkalite14.04 %Na10Mn++Ti3Nb3(Si2O7)6(OH)2F·12(H2O)
Olmsteadite13.31 %KFe++2(Nb,Ta)(PO4)2O2·2(H2O)
Manganbelyankinite13.24 %(Mn,Ca)(Ti,Nb)5O12·9(H2O)
Petscheckite12.98 %U++++Fe++(Nb,Ta)2O8
Rankamaite12.80 %(Na,K,Pb,Li)3(Ta,Nb,Al)11(O,OH)30
Yttrobetafite-(Y)12.80 %(Y,U,Ce)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)
Ungursaite12.51 %NaCa5(Ta,Nb)24O65(OH)
Niobophyllite12.43 %(K,Na)3(Fe++,Mn)6(Nb,Ti)2[Si8O24](O,OH,F)7
Ilimaussite-(Ce)12.30 %Ba2Na4CeFe+++Nb2Si8O28·5(H2O)
Stibiomicrolite12.11 %(Sb,Ca,Na)2(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7
Zirconolite-3O12.01 %(Ca,Fe,Y,Th)2Fe(Ti,Nb)3Zr2O7
Niocalite11.96 %Ca14Nb2(Si2O7)4O6F2
Lithiotantite11.39 %Li(Ta,Nb)3O8
Loparite-(Ce)11.29 %(Ce,Na,Ca)2(Ti,Nb)2O6
Rynersonite10.23 %Ca(Ta,Nb)2O6
Behierite9.94 %(Ta,Nb)BO4
Bornemanite9.44 %BaNa4Ti2NbSi4O17(F,OH)·Na3PO4
Wohlerite9.40 %NaCa2(Zr,Nb)Si2O7(O,OH,F)2
Betafite9.38 %(Ca,Na,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)
Lemmleinite9.34 %NaK2(Ti,Nb)2Si4O12(O,OH)2·2(H2O)
Belyankinite9.14 %Ca1-2(Ti,Zr,Nb)5O12·9(H2O) (?)
Uranopolycrase8.94 %(U,Y)(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6
Yttrotantalite-(Y)8.83 %(Y,U,Fe++)(Ta,Nb)O4
Niobokupletskite8.77 %K2Na(Mn,Zn,Fe)7(Nb,Zr,Ti)2Si8O26(OH)4(O,F)
Plumbobetafite8.73 %(Pb,U,Ca)(Ti,Nb)2O6(OH,F)
Fersmanite8.55 %(Ca,Na)4(Ti,Nb)2Si2O11(F,OH)2
Aeschynite-(Y)8.45 %(Y,Ca,Fe)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Natrobistantite8.43 %(Na,Cs)Bi(Ta,Nb,Sb)4O12
IMA2001-0388.31 %CaK2Mn(Ti,Nb)4(Si4O12)2(O,OH)4·5(H2O)
Baotite8.22 %Ba4(Ti,Nb)8Si4O28Cl
IMA2000-0468.15 %(Na,H3O,K,Sr,Ba)2(Ti,Nb)2[Si4O12](OH,O)2·3H2O
IMA1997-0158.15 %(Na,Ca)5Ca(Ti,Nb)5Si12O34(OH,F)·3(H2O)
IMA2001-0378.11 %K2Zn(Ti,Nb)4(Si4O12)2(OH,O)4·6-8(H2O)
Korobitsynite8.03 %Na3(Ti,Nb)2[Si4O12](OH,O)2·3-4H2O
Titanowodginite7.96 %(Mn++,Fe++)(Ti,Sn)(Ta,Nb)2O8
Struverite7.92 %(Ti,Ta,Fe+++)O2
Shcherbakovite7.92 %(K,Na,Ba)3(Ti,Nb)2Si4O14
Nacareniobsite-(Ce)7.78 %NbNa3Ca3(Ce,La)(Si2O7)2OF3
Tanteuxenite-(Y)7.73 %(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Nb,Ti)2(O,OH)6
IMA2001-0077.62 %(K,Ba)2Fe(Ti,Nb)4(Si4O12)2(O,OH)4·7H2O
Aeschynite-(Ce)7.60 %(Ce,Ca,Fe)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Ceriopyrochlore-(Ce)7.30 %(Ce,Ca,Y)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F)
Normandite7.23 %NaCa(Mn++,Fe++)(Ti,Nb,Zr)Si2O7(O,F)2
IMA2000-0267.10 %(Mn,Li)4(Ta,Sn)4(Ta,Nb)8O32
Murataite6.97 %(Y,Na)6(Zn,Fe+++)5(Ti,Nb)12O29(O,F)14
Aeschynite-(Nd)6.70 %(Nd,Ce)(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)6
Karnasurtite-(Ce)6.60 %(Ce,La,Th)(Ti,Nb)(Al,Fe+++)(Si,P)2O7(OH)4·3(H2O) (?)
Jedwabite6.55 %Fe7(Ta,Nb)3
Joaquinite-(Ce)6.55 %NaFe++Ba2Ce2(Ti,Nb)2[Si4O12]2O2(OH,F)·(H2O)
Wodginite5.85 %Mn++(Sn,Ta)(Ta,Nb)2O8
Stannomicrolite5.83 %(Sn++,Fe++,Mn++)(Ta,Nb,Sn++++)2(O,OH)7
Ixiolite5.80 %(Ta,Nb,Sn,Mn++,Fe++)O2
Manganotapiolite5.77 %(Mn++,Fe++)(Ta,Nb)2O6
Simpsonite5.71 %Al4(Ta,Nb)3O13(OH)
Irtyshite5.15 %Na2(Ta,Nb)4O11
Murmanite4.95 %Na3(Ti,Nb)4(Si2O7)2O4·4(H2O)
Bismutomicrolite4.72 %(Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH)
Scheteligite4.38 %(Ca,Y,Sb,Mn)2(Ti,Ta,Nb,W)2O6(O,OH)
Bismutotantalite4.26 %Bi(Ta,Nb)O4
IMA2001-0234.00 %(Ca,K,Na,Sr,Ba)48[(Ti,Nb,Fe,Mn)12(OH)12Si48O144](F,OH,Cl)14
Tundrite-(Ce)3.78 %Na3(Ce,La)4(Ti,Nb)2(SiO4)2(CO3)3O4(OH)·2(H2O)
Tundrite-(Nd)3.75 %Na3(Nd,La)4(Ti,Nb)2(SiO4)2(CO3)3O4(OH)·2(H2O)
Tantalaeschynite-(Y)3.72 %(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Ti,Nb)2O6
Zimbabweite3.72 %Na(Pb,Na,K)2(Ta,Nb,Ti)4As+++4O18
Bariomicrolite3.67 %Ba(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7
Janhaugite3.60 %(Na,Ca)3(Mn++,Fe++)3(Ti++++,Zr,Nb)2Si4O15(OH,F,O)3
Kupletskite3.48 %(K,Na)3(Mn,Fe++)7(Ti,Nb)2Si8O24(O,OH)7
Kuzmenkoite3.39 %(K,Na)2(Mn,Fe)(Ti,Nb)4[Si4O12]2(OH)4·5(H2O)
Sobolevite3.37 %Na11(Na,Ca)4(Mg,Mn)Ti++++4(Si4O12)(PO4)4O5F3
Cesium-kupletskite3.28 %(Cs,K,Na)3(Mn,Fe++)7(Ti,Nb)2Si8O24(O,OH,F)7
Hydroastrophyllite3.25 %(H3O,K,Ca)3(Fe+++,Mn)5-6Ti2Si8(O,OH)31
Alluaivite3.21 %Na19(Ca,Mn++)6(Ti,Nb)3(Si3O9)2(Si10O28)2Cl·2(H2O)
Mosandrite3.05 %Na(Na,Ca)2(Ca,Ce,Y)4(Ti,Nb,Zr)(Si2O7)2(O,F)2F3
IMA2000-0173.04 %Na11Ca9(Fe+++,Fe++)2Zr3Nb[Si25O73](OH,H2O,Cl,O)5
IMA1999-0462.99 %Na15Ca6Fe3Zr3NbSi25O73(O,OH,H2O)3Cl2
Oneillite2.97 %Na15Ca3Mn3Fe++3Zr3Nb(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(OH,Cl)2
Polyakovite-(Ce)2.96 %(REE,Ca)4(Mg,Fe++)(Cr,Fe+++)2(Ti,Nb)2Si4O22
Uranmicrolite2.67 %(U,Ca)2(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH)
Zirconolite2.55 %(Ca,Ce)Zr(Ti,Nb,Fe+++)O7
Kentbrooksite2.38 %(Na,REE)15(Ca,REE)6Mn++Zr3NbSi25O74F2·2(H2O)
Lavenite2.37 %(Na,Ca)2(Mn,Fe++)(Zr,Ti,Nb)Si2O7(O,OH,F)
Cesplumtantite2.25 %(Cs,Na,Ca)2(Pb,Sb+++,Sn)3Ta8O24
Zircophyllite1.96 %(K,Na,Ca)3(Mn,Fe++)7(Zr,Nb)2Si8O27(OH,F)4
Orthojoaquinite-(La)1.95 %Ba2Na(La,Ce)2Fe++Ti2Si8O26(OH,O,F)·H2O
Sosedkoite1.85 %(K,Na)5Al2(Ta,Nb)22O60
Cesstibtantite1.60 %(Cs,Na)SbTa4O12
Perraultite1.05 %(Na,Ca)2(Ba,K)2(Mn++,Fe++)8(Ti,Nb)4Si8O32(OH,F,O)6
Vinogradovite0.95 %(Na,K)4Ti4(Si,Al)8O26·3(H2O,Na)
Ferrotapiolite0.93 %(Fe++,Mn++)(Ta,Nb)2O6
Lemoynite0.86 %(Na,K)2CaZr2Si10O26·5-6(H2O)
Labuntsovite0.83 %(K,Ba,Na)8(Ti,Nb)9[(Si,Al)4O12]4(O,OH)10·n(H2O)
Natrolemoynite0.82 %Na4Zr2Si10O26·9(H2O)
Jinshajiangite0.79 %Na2K5BaCa(Fe,Mn)8(Ti,Fe,Nb,Zr)4Si8O32(O,F,H2O)6