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Microlite

Big Photo

Fisher Quarry, Topsham, Sagadahoc Co., Maine, USA
© Van King

Show Microlite Photos (86)
Formula:
(Ca,Na)
 
2
Ta
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH,F)
System:IsometricColour:Pale yellow to reddish ...
Lustre:Vitreous, ResinousHardness:5 - 5½
Name:From the Greek μικρός, small, in allusion to the usual small size of the crystals from the type locality.


Pyrochlore Group. Microlite Subgroup. Microlite-Pyrochlore Series. The tantalum analogue of Pyrochlore and the calcium analogue of the other members of the Microlite Subgroup.

Classification of Microlite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/C.18-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DH.15

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
H : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:8.2.2.1

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
2 : A2B2O6(O,OH,F)
Hey's CIM Ref.:18.1.11

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

Type Locality:Clark Ledge pegmatite locality, Chesterfield, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts, USA
Year of Discovery:1835

Occurrences of Microlite

Geological Setting:Albitized parts of granite pegmatites.

Physical Properties of Microlite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Pale yellow to reddish brown, sometimes emerald-green
Streak:Light yellow, brownish
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 5½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
Octahedral{111} (may be a parting), sometmes distinct, but usually not distinguishable.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Splintery, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):5.9 - 6.4 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.33 g/cm3
Comment:Calc for Ca:Na = 1:1

Crystallography of Microlite

Crystal System:Isometric
Class (H-M):m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:Fd3m {F41/d 3 2/m}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.41(5) Å
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,128.11 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:8
Morphology:Octahedral, often with subordinate {001}, {113} or {001}.
Twinning:Twin plane {111} (spinel law twins), rare.
Crystal Atlas:
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Microlite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Microlite no.4 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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The mindat.org Crystal Atlas allows you to view a selection of crystal drawings of real and idealised crystal forms for this mineral and, in certain cases, 3d rotating crystal objects. You need Java to see these. You can download Java for free - click here to download Java

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Microlite

Type:Isotropic
RI values: n = 1.93 - 2.02
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000 - Isotropic minerals have no birefringence
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Isotropic

Chemical Properties of Microlite

Formula:
(Ca,Na)
 
2
Ta
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH,F)
Essential elements:Ca, O, Ta
All elements listed in formula:Ca, F, H, Na, O, Ta
Common Impurities:Fe,Mg,Mn,U,Zr,Th,Ti,Sn,Pb

Relationship of Microlite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Pyrochlore (see here)
Member of Group:
Microlite Subgroup:
Pyrochlore Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DH.05Brannerite
(U
4+
 
,Ca)(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DH.05Orthobrannerite
U
4+
 
U
6+
 
Ti
 
4
O
 
12
(OH)
 
2
4.DH.05Thorutite
(Th,U,Ca)Ti
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DH.10Kassite
CaTi
 
2
O
 
4
(OH)
 
2
4.DH.10Lucasite-(Ce)
CeTi
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DH.15Alumotungstite
(W,Al)(O,OH)
 
3
4.DH.15Bariomicrolite
Ba(Ta,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DH.15Bariopyrochlore
(Ba,Sr)
 
2-x
(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DH.15Betafite
(Ca,U)
 
2
(Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)
4.DH.15Bismutomicrolite
(Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)
4.DH.15Calciobetafite
(Ca,RE,Th,U)
 
2
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
7
4.DH.15Ceriopyrochlore-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Y)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,F)
4.DH.15Cesstibtantite
(Cs,Na)SbTa
 
4
O
 
12
4.DH.15Ferritungstite
(W,Fe
3+
 
)(O,OH)
 
3
4.DH.15Jixianite
Pb(W,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DH.15Kalipyrochlore
(K,Sr)
 
2-x
Nb
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH)·nH
 
2
O
4.DH.15Natrobistantite
(Na,Cs)Bi(Ta,Nb,Sb)
 
4
O
 
12
4.DH.15Plumbopyrochlore
(Pb,Ca,Y,U)
 
2-x
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,O)
4.DH.15Plumbomicrolite
(Pb,Ca,U)
 
2-x
(Ta,Nb,Sn)
 
2
O
 
6
(O,[])
4.DH.15Plumbobetafite
(Pb,U,Ca)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,F)
4.DH.15Pyrochlore
(Ca,Na)
 
2
Nb
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,F)
4.DH.15Stibiomicrolite
(Sb,Ca,Na)
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
7
4.DH.15Strontiopyrochlore
(Sr,Ce,Ca)
 
2-x
(Nb,Fe)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DH.15Stannomicrolite
(Sn,Fe,Mn)
 
2
(Ta,Nb,Sn)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DH.15Stibiobetafite
(Sb,Ca)
 
2
(Ti,Nb,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DH.15Uranmicrolite
(U,Ca,Ce)
 
2
(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,F)
4.DH.15Uranpyrochlore
(U,Ca,Ce)
 
2
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH,F)
4.DH.15Yttrobetafite-(Y)
(Y,U,Ce)
 
2
(Ti,Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
OH
4.DH.15Yttropyrochlore-(Y)
(Y,Ca,U)
 
1-2
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DH.15Fluornatromicrolite
(Na,Ca,Bi)
 
2
Ta
 
2
O
 
6
F
4.DH.15Bismutopyrochlore
(Bi,U,Ca,Pb)
 
1+x
(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
6
(OH)·nH
 
2
O
4.DH.15Thorian Pyrochlore
4.DH.15Elsmoreite
WO
 
3
·0.5H
 
2
O
4.DH.20Bismutostibiconite
Bi(Sb
5+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
7
4.DH.20Bindheimite
Pb
 
2
Sb
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH)
4.DH.20Monimolite
(Pb,Ca,Fe)
 
3
Sb
 
2
O
 
7
4.DH.20Partzite
Cu
 
2
Sb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DH.20Roméite
(Ca,Fe,Mn,Na)
 
2
(Sb,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
(O,OH,F)
4.DH.20Stetefeldtite
Ag
 
2
Sb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
4.DH.20Stibiconite
Sb
3+
 
Sb
5+
2
O
 
6
(OH)
4.DH.25Rosiaite
PbSb
5+
2
O
 
6
4.DH.30Zirconolite
CaZrTi
 
2
O
 
7
4.DH.35Liandratite
U(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DH.35Petscheckite
UFe(Nb,Ta)
 
2
O
 
8
4.DH.40Ingersonite
Ca
 
3
MnSb
 
4
O
 
14
4.DH.45Pittongite
Na
 
0.22
(W,Fe
3+
 
)(O,OH)
 
3
 · 0.44H
 
2
O
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
18.1.12Belyankinite
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
18.1.18Alumotantite
AlTaO
 
4
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 Microlite

Synonyms:
HaddamiteMetasimpsoniteNeotantaliteNiobtantalpyrochlorTantalpyrochlor
Other Languages:
German:Microlit
Mikrolith
Russian:Микролит
Spanish:Microlita
Varieties:
Scandium microlite

Other Information

Health Warning:May be radioactive

References for Microlite

Reference List:Shepard (1835), American Journal of Science: 27: 361.

Shepard (1837), American Journal of Science: 32: 338.

Hayes (1842), American Journal of Science: 43: 33.

Shepard (1842), American Journal of Science: 43: 116.

Hayes (1844), American Journal of Science: 46: 158.

Shepard (1870), American Journal of Science: 50: 93 (as Haddamite).

Nordenskiöld (1872), Geol. För. Förh.: 3: 282.

Nordenskiöld (1894), Geol. För. Förh.: 16: 336.

Machatschki (1932), Chem. Erde: 7: 56.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 748-756.

American Mineralogist (1977): 62: 403-410.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (1997) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume III. Halides, Hydroxides, Oxides. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 628pp.: 372.

Internet Links for Microlite

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    Localities for Microlite

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