Rubaya Coltan Mine (DRC)
- Located in North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Recently collapsed, killing over 200 people
- Accounts for 15% of global Coltan (columbite-tantalite) supply
- Coltan refined into tantalum — heat-resistant rare metal critical for semiconductors, aerospace, EV batteries
Rat-Hole Mining (Meghalaya)
- East Jaintia Hills: Site of recent disastrous coal mine collapse
- Rat-hole mining persists illegally despite 2014 NGT ban and Supreme Court directives
UPSC Angle
- GS3: Mineral resources, mining regulation
- GS2: International affairs (DRC conflict minerals)
📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia
Rubaya Mine (DRC):
- Location: North Kivu, DRC
- Global coltan share: 15%
- Product: tantalum (semiconductors, aerospace, EVs)
- Deaths in collapse: 200+
Rat-Hole Mining:
- Location: East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya
- Ban: NGT, 2014; Supreme Court directives