Niobium

Niobium is a soft, gray metal that is easy to shape. Charles Hatchett discovered it in 1801 and called it columbium; the name niobium, after Niobe in Greek myth, became official in the mid-20th century. Brazil produces almost all of the world's supply, mainly from the mineral pyrochlore.

Most niobium is added to steel in tiny amounts, often less than 0.1%, to make it stronger and lighter for pipelines, cars and bridges. Alloyed with titanium or tin, it becomes a superconductor when deeply cooled, carrying current with no resistance. Such wires form the powerful magnets in MRI scanners and the Large Hadron Collider.