How are deposits of metals like tantalum located?

Question

I am curious of how metal deposits are located in general, but to keep my question focused I wanted to just ask about tantalum for example.Are there people who traverse their own country drilling core samples here and there? What indicators would they be looking for tantalum in particular?

Answer 1

Tantalum (formerly tantalium) is found in Brazil, Australia, Thailand, Mozambique, Zaire, Nigeria and Canada! It is a silver-gray, super-dense element and highly heat -and electrically conductive. I wager there are many ways to extract it from such formations like noblinum.