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Alumotantite

Big Photo

Alto do Giz pegmatite, Equador, Borborema mineral province, Rio Grande do Norte, Northeast Region, Brazil
© Arliguie M

Formula:
AlTaO
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless to white
Hardness:7½
Name:For ALUMinium and TANTalum in the composition
This page provides mineralogical data about Alumotantite.

Classification of Alumotantite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.27-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DB.55

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:8.1.7.1

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:18.1.18

18 : Niobates and Tantalates
1 : Niobates and tantalates containing neither rare earths nor U
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Type Occurrence of Alumotantite

Type Locality:Leshaia (Leshaya) pegmatite, Vasin-Myl'k Mt, Voron'i Tundry, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Geology Museum, Kola Branch, Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia
Year of Discovery:1981
Geological Setting of type material:albitized area of a highly fractionated rare element-enriched granite pegmatite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SosedkoiteSimpsoniteNatrotantiteMicroliteCesstibtantite
Albite

Occurrences of Alumotantite

Geological Setting:in albitized areas of highly fractionated rare element-enriched granite pegmatites

Physical Properties of Alumotantite

Lustre:Adamantine, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless to white
Hardness (Mohs):7½
Hardness (Vickers):VHN100=1650 - 1690 kg/mm2
Density (calculated):7.48 g/cm3

Crystallography of Alumotantite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pbcn {P21/b 2/c 21/n}
Cell Parameters:a = 4.475Å, b = 11.308Å, c = 4.771Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.396 : 1 : 0.422
Unit Cell Volume:V 241.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:as euhedral to subhedral, elongated crystals to 1 mm, with rhombic to rectangular cross-section;
as rims and parallel oriented intergrowths on simpsonite, also rims around natrotantite, which in turn rims simpsonite crystals
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
1.649 (5)
1.837 (5)
2.439 (5)
2.89 (8)
3.13 (10)
3.64 (7)
Comments:Material from Kola Peninsula, Russia

Optical Data of Alumotantite

Type:Biaxial (-)
Reflectivity:
486 nmR1=15.6%R2= 14.7%
589 nmR1=15.4%R2= 14.6%
656 nmR1=15.9%R2= 15.1%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 15.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red

Chemical Properties of Alumotantite

Formula:
AlTaO
 
4
Essential elements:Al, O, Ta
All elements listed in formula:Al, O, Ta
Analytical Data:Results from electron microprobe analysis of type material;
Empricial formula calculated for four oxygen atoms per formula unit
Nb2O5 (0.80)
Ta2O5 (81.13)
Al2O3 (18.47)
Empirical Formula:
Al
 
0.98
(Ta
 
0.99
Nb
 
0.02
)
 
Σ=1.01
O
 
4
Common Impurities:Sn

Relationship of Alumotantite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DB.05Argutite
GeO
 
2
4.DB.05Cassiterite
SnO
 
2
4.DB.05Plattnerite
PbO
 
2
4.DB.05Pyrolusite
MnO
 
2
4.DB.05Rutile
TiO
 
2
4.DB.05Tripuhyite
Fe
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
4.DB.05Tugarinovite
MoO
 
2
4.DB.05Varlamoffite
(Sn,Fe)(O,OH)
 
2
4.DB.10Byströmite
MgSb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Tapiolite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.10Ordoñezite
ZnSb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.15bAkhtenskite
ε-Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
4.DB.15cNsutite
(Mn
4+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)(O,OH)
 
2
4.DB.15aParamontroseite
VO
 
2
4.DB.15aRamsdellite
Mn
4+
 
O
 
2
4.DB.20Scrutinyite
alpha-PbO
 
2
4.DB.25Ishikawaite
U
4+
 
Fe
2+
 
Nb
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Ixiolite
(Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
4
O
 
8
4.DB.25Samarskite-(Y)
(Y,Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,U,Th,Ca)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Srilankite
Ti
 
2
ZrO
 
6
4.DB.25Yttrocolumbite-(Y)
Y(U
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Nb
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Calciosamarskite
(Ca,Fe
3+
 
,Y)
 
2
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Samarskite-(Yb)
(Yb,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.25Písekite-(Y)
4.DB.30Ferberite
FeWO
 
4
4.DB.30Hübnerite
MnWO
 
4
4.DB.30Sanmartinite
(Zn,Fe)WO
 
4
4.DB.30Krasnoselskite
CoWO
 
4
4.DB.30Heftetjernite
ScTaO
 
4
4.DB.30IMA2009-018
MgWO
 
4
4.DB.35Columbite-(Fe)
FeNb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Fe)
FeTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Columbite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mn)
MnTa
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Columbite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.35Qitianlingite
(Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
WO
 
10
4.DB.35Magnocolumbite
4.DB.35Tantalite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DB.40Ferrowodginite
FeSnTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Lithiotantite
Li(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
8
4.DB.40Lithiowodginite
LiTa
 
3
O
 
8
4.DB.40Titanowodginite
MnTiTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Wodginite
Mn(Sn,Ta)Ta
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Ferrotitanowodginite
Fe
2+
 
TiTa
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.40Wolframowodginite
Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DB.45Tivanite
VTiO
 
3
(OH)
4.DB.50Carmichaelite
(Ti,Cr,Fe)[O
 
2-x
(OH)
 
x
]
4.DB.60Biehlite
((Sb,As)O)
 
2
[MoO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
18.1.1Lithiotantite
Li(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
8
18.1.2Lueshite
NaNbO
 
3
18.1.3Natroniobite
NaNbO
 
3
18.1.4Franconite
Na
 
2
Nb
 
4
O
 
11
·9H
 
2
O
18.1.5Natrotantite
Na
 
2
Ta
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.6Irtyshite
Na
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.7Rankamaite
(Na,K,Pb,Li)
 
3
(Ta,Nb,Al)
 
11
(O,OH)
 
30
18.1.8Kalipyrochlore
(K,Sr)
 
2-x
Nb
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH)·nH
 
2
O
18.1.9Calciotantite
CaTa
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.10Rynersonite
Ca(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.11Microlite
(Ca,Na)
 
2
Ta
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH,F)
18.1.12Belyankinite
Ca
 
1-2
(Ti,Zr,Nb)
 
5
O
 
12
 · 9H
 
2
O (?)
18.1.13Latrappite
(Ca,Na)(Nb,Ti,Fe)O
 
3
18.1.14Hochelagaite
(Ca,Na,Sr)(Nb,Ti,Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
11
·8H
 
2
O
18.1.15Bariomicrolite
Ba(Ta,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.16Parabariomicrolite
BaTa
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·2H
 
2
O
18.1.17Bariopyrochlore
(Ba,Sr)
 
2-x
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.19Simpsonite
Al
 
4
(Ta,Nb)
 
3
O
 
13
(OH,F)
18.1.20Sosedkoite
(K,Na)
 
5
Al
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
22
O
 
60
18.1.21Thoreaulite
SnTa
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.22Stannomicrolite
(Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Ta,Nb,Sn)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.23Foordite
(Sn,Pb)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.24Changbaiite
PbNb
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.25Plumbopyrochlore
(Pb,Ca,Y,U)
 
2-x
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,O)
18.1.26Plumbomicrolite
(Pb,Ca,U)
 
2-x
(Ta,Nb,Sn)
 
2
O
 
6
(O,[])
18.1.27Stibiocolumbite
Sb(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
18.1.28Stibiotantalite
Sb(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.29Natrobistantite
(Na,Cs)Bi(Ta,Nb,Sb)
 
4
O
 
12
18.1.30Cesplumtantite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
(Pb,Sb
3+
 
)
 
3
Ta
 
8
O
 
24
18.1.31Stibiomicrolite
(Sb,Ca,Na)
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
7
18.1.32Cesstibtantite
(Cs,Na)SbTa
 
4
O
 
12
18.1.33 Stibobetafite
(Ca,Sb)
 
2
(Ti,Nb,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
18.1.34Bismutotantalite
Bi(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.35Bismutomicrolite
(Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)
18.1.36Tantalite-(Mn)
MnTa
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.37Gerasimovskite
(Mn,Ca)(Nb,Ti)
 
5
O
 
12
·9H
 
2
O
18.1.38Tapiolite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.39Columbite-(Mn)
(Mn,Fe)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.40Wodginite
Mn(Sn,Ta)Ta
 
2
O
 
8
18.1.41Ixiolite
(Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
4
O
 
8
18.1.42Columbite-(Fe)
FeNb
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.43Tantalite-(Fe)
FeTa
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.44Columbite
(Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.45Tantalite
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.46Tapiolite
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.47Tapiolite-(Fe)
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.48Columbite-(Mg)
(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.50Strüverite
(Ti,Ta,Fe)O
 
2
18.1.51 Staringite
(Fe,Mn)
 
x
(Ta,Nb)
 
2x
Sn
 
6-3x
O
 
12

Other Names for Alumotantite

Synonyms:
IMA1980-025
Other Languages:
German:Alumotantit
Russian:Алюмотантит
Spanish:Alumotantita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Bright blue cathodoluminescence
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Alumotantite

Reference List:Voloshin, A. V., Men'shikov, Y. P. and Pakhomovskii, Y. A. (1981): Alumotantite and natrotantite, new tantalum minerals in granitic pegmatites. Zap. Vses. Mineral. Obshch. 110, 338-345 (in Russian). - American Mineralogist (1982), 67, 413 (abstract).

Ercit, T. S., Hawthorne, F. C. and Cerný, P. (1992): The crystal structure of alumotantite: its relation to the structures of simpsonite and the (Al,Ga)(Ta,Nb)O4 compounds. Canadian Mineralogist 30, 653-662.

American Mineralogist (1993) 78, 849.

Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 10.

Internet Links for Alumotantite

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    Localities for Alumotantite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Brazil
     
    • Northeast Region
      • Rio Grande do Norte
        • Borborema mineral province
          • Equador
    		http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/parabariomicrolite.pdf.; Canadian Mineralogist (1986): 24: 655-663.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Voron'i Tundry
    		Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    ZVMO (1981) 110/3, 338-345; J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. III (1997); Pekov, I. (1998) Minerals First discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union 369p. Ocean Pictures, Moscow
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Masvingo District
      • Bikita
    		J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. III (1997)
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 26th Oct 2009 00:54:25