Abstract: A kinetic study of the leaching of iron and manganese from powdered tantalite-columbite ore by Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) and Sulphuric Acid (H2SO4) solutions has been carried out. The effects of (a) particle size ranging from 63 to 250 μm (b) stirring speed ranging from 180 to 540 min-1(c) acid concentration ranging from 4.0 to 10.0 M (d) temperature ranging from 30 to 90 ° on the leaching of iron and manganese are reported. The leaching rates were significantly dependent on the particle size of the ore, stirring speed, temperature, concentration and the nature of the acids used. Within the first 120 min of leaching, iron and manganese were largely leached by HCl solution. After 120 min more iron was leached by H2SO4 solution. The observed effects of the operating variables on the leaching rates were consistent with the ash/product layer diffusion-controlled kinetic model: 1+2(1-a)-3(1-a)2/3=k2t The apparent activation energies for the leaching of iron and manganese were 14.50 and 39.99 KJ mol-1 for the leaching of iron by HCl and H2SO4, respectively. The corresponding values for manganese were 19.91 and 60.78 KJ mol-1.