Tantite
Tantite | |
---|---|
General | |
Category | Mineral |
Formula (repeating unit) | Ta2O5 |
Strunz classification | 04.EA.05 |
Dana classification | 04.06.06.01 |
Unit cell | a = 3.8 Å, b = 3.79 Å, c = 35.74 Å; β = 90.18°; Z = 6 |
Identification | |
Formula mass | 441.89 g |
Color | Colorless |
Crystal system | Triclinic - Pedial |
Cleavage | None |
Mohs scale hardness | 7 |
Luster | Adamantine |
Streak | White |
Diaphaneity | Transparent |
Specific gravity | 8.55 |
Density | g/cm3 8.45 |
Optical properties | Biaxial |
References | [1][2] |
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.
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
- ↑ "Tantite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ↑ "Tantite Mineral Data". Webmineral.com. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- Wisconsin minerals Accessed March 31, 2006.
- American Mineralogist data sheet PDF Accessed March 31, 2006.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, July 17, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.