Tantite is a rare tantalum oxide mineral with formula: Ta2O5. Tantite forms transparent microscopic colorless triclinic - pedial crystals with an adamantine luster. It has a Mohs hardness of 7 and a high specific gravity of 8.45. Chemical analyses show minor inclusion (1.3%) of niobium oxide.

Tantite
General
CategoryOxide minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ta2O5
IMA symbolTan[1]
Strunz classification4.EA.05
Dana classification04.06.06.01
Crystal systemTriclinic
Crystal classPedial (1)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP1
Unit cella = 3.8 Å, b = 3.79 Å
c = 35.74 Å; β = 90.18°; Z = 6
Identification
Formula mass441.89 g/mol
ColorColorless
CleavageNone
Mohs scale hardness7
LusterAdamantine
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity8.55
Density8.45 g/cm3
Optical propertiesBiaxial
References[2][3]

It was first described in 1983 for an occurrence in a pegmatite in the Kola peninsula, Russia. It has also been reported from a pegmatite complex in Florence County, Wisconsin. Associated mineral species include elbaite, lepidolite, spodumene, columbite-tantalite, wodginite, and microlite.

References

edit
  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ "Tantite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
  3. ^ "Tantite Mineral Data". Webmineral.com. Retrieved 2011-11-01.