The accompanying map shows the location of the principal known deposits of niobium and tantalum minerals in the United States, exclusive of Alaska and Hawaii. Symbols of different shapes are used to depict deposits of different geologic types, and large symbols denote deposits with a record of production. Small symbols denote known occurrences of the minerals. Individual symbols may represent districts or groups of deposits too closely spaced to permit them to be distinguished separately because of scale limitations. Some districts or areas of widespread occurrences are shown by a shaded pattern.
The deposits are numbered by states on the map and identified by number in the index, which also gives the geographic coordinates of the deposits, brief geologic descriptions, and references to the principal published reports if such exist. Both published information and unpublished data gathered by the U. S. Geological Survey were used in preparing the map and text.