Berlin, Germany/berlin092
Previous | Home | NextThe red-brown columbite inclusions are identified by arrows. The analysis of Heinrich Rose reestablished the discovery of columbium (niobium) by Hatchett in 1801{LINK: to london7-402}. Ekeberg had discovered tantalum in Uppsala in 1802 {LINK: to Uppsala newer building}, but Wollaston in 1809 had concluded that columbium and tantalum were identical elements on the basis of their "identical" chemical reactions. However, the densities of the respective minerals were different, so there was always a nagging question of the true nature of the minerals. Heinrich Rose in 1847 performed careful analysis on columbite and discovered an element which he called "niobium" (the name used today) and which he assumed was identical to Hatchett's "columbium." Marignac in Switzerland cleared up the confusion between niobium and tantalum in 1865 {LINK: Marignac in Geneva, Switzerland}.
