Category Oxide minerals Strunz classification 4.EA.05 Crystal system Triclinic | Formula
(repeating unit) Ta2O5 Dana classification 04.06.06.01 | |
Crystal class Pedial (1)
(same H-M symbol) | ||
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 Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA