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Alumotantite

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Big Photo

Alto do Giz pegmatite, Equador, Borborema mineral province, Rio Grande do Norte, 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: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:
SosedkoiteSimpsoniteNatrotantiteMicrolite GroupCesstibtantite
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)
5.66 (5)
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
V
4+
 
O
 
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.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.30Huanzalaite
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
V
3+
 
TiO
 
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
18.1.8Hydropyrochlore
(H
 
2
O,□)
 
2
Nb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
(H
 
2
O)
18.1.9Calciotantite
CaTa
 
4
O
 
11
18.1.10Rynersonite
Ca(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.11Microlite Group
18.1.12Belyankinite
Ca
 
1-2
(Ti,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 (of Hogarth 1977)
18.1.16Parabariomicrolite
BaTa
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
18.1.17Bariopyrochlore (of Hogarth 1977)
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 (of Hogarth 1977)
18.1.23Foordite
(Sn,Pb)(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.24Changbaiite
PbNb
 
2
O
 
6
18.1.25Plumbopyrochlore (of Skorobogatova et al)
18.1.26Plumbomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977)
18.1.27Stibiocolumbite
Sb(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
18.1.28Stibiotantalite
Sb(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.29Natrobistantite
18.1.30Cesplumtantite
(Cs,Na)
 
2
(Pb,Sb
3+
 
)
 
3
Ta
 
8
O
 
24
18.1.31Stibiomicrolite (of Groat et al)
18.1.32Cesstibtantite
18.1.34Bismutotantalite
Bi(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
18.1.35Bismutomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977)
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

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
     
    • 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
    		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; 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)
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