ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE MINERAL ...AND BLOODY

Coltan:  A mineral that is often found in electronics. While this may not be the world’s most expensive metal, it is weighted with blood. Coltan is mostly harvested in the Congo, Rwanda and Venezuela and is considered to be a leading conflict mineral. Violence, rape and monetary exploitation are often side effects of the mining practices. Rwandan rebel soldiers force prisoners, some children, to dig for the mineral. Coltan mining also impacts the endangered Mountain Gorilla as it is mined near the Kahuzi Biega National Park (gorilla hábitat). Coltan harvest in the Democratic Republic of Congo reaps  8 MILLION DOLARS a year. Each pound of coltan sells for 100 DOLARS.