tantalite

Also known as tantalite-(metal) series, tantalite series

The mineral group tantalite [(Fe, Mn)Ta2O6] is the primary source of the chemical element tantalum, a corrosion (heat and acid) resistant metal. It is chemically similar to columbite, and the two are often grouped together as a semi-singular mineral called coltan or "columbite-tantalite" in many mineral guides. However, tantalite has a much greater specific gravity than columbite (8.0+ compared to columbite's 5.2). Iron-rich tantalite is the mineral tantalite-(Fe) or ferrotantalite and manganese-rich is tantalite-(Mn) or manganotantalite.

Key facts

Mineral.name: Tantalite
Mineral.image: Tantalite.jpg
Mineral.imagesize: 260px
Mineral.caption: Tantalite, Pilbara district, Australia
Mineral.category: Oxide minerals
Mineral.formula: (Fe,Mn)Ta2O6
Mineral.IMAsymbol: Ttl
Mineral.strunz: 4.DB.35
Mineral.system: Orthorhombic
Mineral.class: Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Mineral.symmetry: Pbcn (no. 60)
Mineral.color: Dark black, iron-black to dark brown, reddish brown
Mineral.cleavage: Good in one direction
Mineral.fracture: Subconchoidal
Mineral.mohs: 6–6.5
Mineral.luster: Submetallic to almost resinous
Mineral.streak: Brownish-red to black
Mineral.gravity: 8.0+

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Wikidata facts

Image: Tantalite-272645.jpg

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Commons category: Tantalite

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Occurrence
Applications
Sustainability
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References
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Tantalite is also very close to tapiolite. Those minerals have the same chemical composition, but different crystal symmetry: orthorhombic for tantalite and tetragonal for tapiolite.