Niobium distribution

Niobium is estimated to have an abundance of 20 parts per million in the Earth's crust, ranking 33rd among all elements. Some scientists believe that niobium is more abundant throughout the Earth, but that it is mainly concentrated in the Earth's core due to its high density.Niobium does not occur in a pure state in nature, but combines with other elements to form minerals.

Brazil and Canada have the largest deposits of pyrochlore. Both countries discovered these deposits in the 1950s and are still the largest producers of niobium concentrates. The world's largest deposits are located in a zone of carbonate intrusive rocks in Arasha, Minas Gerais, Brazil, belonging to CBMM (Companhia Brasileira de Minerais e Metallurgia), and another in Goiás, belonging to Anglo American Resources, also in carbonate intrusive rocks.These two mines account for 75% of the world's total production.The third largest mine is located near Saguenay, Quebec, Canada, and accounts for 7% of world production.