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Bismutotantalite

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Gamba Hill, Busiiro Co. (Bushiro Co.), Wakiso District, Uganda
© Knut Eldjarn

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Formula:
Bi(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
System:OrthorhombicColour:Light brown to ...
Hardness:5 - 5½
Member of:Cervantite Group
Name:In allusion to the composition, containing bismuth and its relationship to tantalite.
This page provides mineralogical data about Bismutotantalite.

Classification of Bismutotantalite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.25-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DE.30

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
E : With medium-sized cations; with various polyhedra
Dana 8th edition ID:8.1.6.3

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:18.1.34

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

Type Locality:Gamba Hill, Busiiro Co. (Bushiro Co.), Wakiso District, Uganda
Place of Conservation of Type Material:The Natural History Museum, London, England (No. 1929,160)
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 96044)
Year of Discovery:1929
Geological Setting of type material:In granite pegmatite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SchorlMuscoviteCassiterite

Occurrences of Bismutotantalite

Geological Setting:In pegmatites; in alluvial placers

Physical Properties of Bismutotantalite

Lustre:Sub-Metallic
Colour:Light brown to pitch-black; light smoke-grey to colourless in transmitted light
Streak:Yellow, yellow-brown to black
Hardness (Mohs):5 - 5½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {010}, distinct on {101} and {100}.
Fracture:Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):8.15 - 8.89 g/cm3
Density (calculated):8.9 g/cm3

Crystallography of Bismutotantalite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 4.99Å, b = 11.85Å, c = 5.68Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.421 : 1 : 0.479
Unit Cell Volume:V 335.87 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Stout crystals, prismatic on [001], to 10 cm; commonly irregular or misshapen; as stream-rounded pebbles in placers.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.148 (10)
2.945 (6)
3.555 (3)
1.735 (3)
1.270 (3)
2.819 (2)
2.743 (2)
Comments:Recorded on material from Acari, Brazil

Optical Data of Bismutotantalite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.388 - 2.395 nβ = 2.403 - 2.408 nγ = 2.426 - 2.428
2V:Measured: 80° , Calculated: 78°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.038

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r < v
Comments:The mineral is isotropic when metamict

Chemical Properties of Bismutotantalite

Formula:
Bi(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
Essential elements:Bi, O, Ta
All elements listed in formula:Bi, Nb, O, Ta
Analytical Data:Analyses of material from the type locality (1), and from Acari, Brazil (2)
         (1)      (2)

Nb2O5   (6.63)   (1.26)
Ta2O5  (40.12)  (46.45)
SiO2             (0.16)
Fe2O3   (0.11)   (0.94)
Bi2O3  (52.26)  (48.98)
Sb2O3   (0.04)   (1.76)
ZnO              (0.38)
MnO     (0.12)   (0.11)
LOI     (0.33)   (0.62) - loss on incineration

sum     99.61   100.66 wt.-%
Common Impurities:Fe,Mn,Sb,Si,Zn

Relationship of Bismutotantalite to other Species

Member of:Cervantite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Bismutocolumbite
Bi(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
Cervantite
Sb
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
Clinocervantite
Sb
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
Stibiocolumbite
Sb(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
Stibiotantalite
Sb(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DE.05Downeyite
SeO
 
2
4.DE.10Koragoite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
3
(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(Nb,Mn)
 
2
(W,Ta)
 
2
O
 
20
4.DE.15Koechlinite
Bi
 
2
MoO
 
6
4.DE.15Russellite
Bi
 
2
WO
 
6
4.DE.15Tungstibite
Sb
3+
2
WO
 
6
4.DE.20Tellurite
TeO
 
2
4.DE.25Paratellurite
TeO
 
2
4.DE.30Bismutocolumbite
Bi(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
4.DE.30Cervantite
Sb
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
4.DE.30Stibiotantalite
Sb(Ta,Nb)O
 
4
4.DE.30Stibiocolumbite
Sb(Nb,Ta)O
 
4
4.DE.30Clinocervantite
Sb
3+
 
Sb
5+
 
O
 
4
4.DE.35Baddeleyite
ZrO
 
2
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)
 
3
(Ta,Nb,Al)
 
11
(O,OH)
 
31
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)
18.1.18Alumotantite
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
(Sn
2+
 
,Pb)(Ta,Nb)
 
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
18.1.35Bismutomicrolite (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 Bismutotantalite

Synonyms:
Ugandite
Other Languages:
German:Bismutotantalit
Ugandit
Russian:Бисмутотанталит
Spanish:Bismutotantalita
Ugandita

Other Information

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 Bismutotantalite

Reference List:

- +
Wayland and Spencer (1929), Mineralogical Magaizne: 22: 185.

American Mineralogist (1929), 14, 312.

American Mineralogist (1930), 15, 201.

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: 769-770.

Hurlbut, C. S., Jr. (1957): Bismutotantalite from Brazil. American Mineralogist 42, 178-183.

Vlasov, K. A., Ed. (1966): Mineralogy of rare elements, Vol. 2, 442-445.

von Knorring, O. and Fadipe, A. (1981): On the mineralogy and geochemistry of niobium and tantalum in some granite pegmatites and alkali granites of Africa. Bull. Minéral. 104, 496-507.

Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65.

Canadian Mineralogist (2001), 39, 103-110.

Internet Links for Bismutotantalite

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    • Localities for Bismutotantalite

    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.
    Argentina
     
    • Salta
      • Nevados de Palermo
        • El Quemado District
    		Galliski et al. (2001) Bismutotantalite from northwestern Argentina: description and crystal structure. Can. Min. Vol. 39, pp. 103-110.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Coolgardie Shire
        • Coolgardie
    		Grguric, B. A. & Downes, P. J. (2008): Pegmatite minerals from the Barabara mine, Coolgardie, Western Australia. Australian J. of Mineralogy 14, 55-60.
    Brazil
     
    • Paraíba
      • Borborema mineral province
        • Junco do Seridó
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65
        • Picuí
    		Beurlen, H., Da Silva, M.R.R., Thomas, R., Soares, D.R., and Olivier, P. (2008): Mineralium Deposita 43, 207-228.
    • Rio Grande do Norte
      • Borborema mineral province
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65
    Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65
    Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65
    Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65
    China
     
    • Xinjiang Autonomous Region
      • Yili Hasake Autonomous Prefecture (Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture)
        • Aletai Prefecture (Altay Prefecture)
          • Fuyun Co. (Koktokay Co.)
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65
    Italy
     
    • Lombardy
      • Brescia Province
        • Adamello-Brenta Natural Park
          • Adamello Massif
            • Mt. Foppa
    		Pezzotta, Federico and Guastoni, Alessandro, The New Discovery of a LCT Pegmatite in the Adamello Massif, Central Southern Alps, Italy; Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Milan, Italy.
    Japan
     
    • Kyushu Region
      • Fukuoka Prefecture
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65
    Madagascar
     
    • Mahajanga Province (Majunga)
      • Betsiboka Region
        • Tsaratanàna District
          • Tsaratanàna Pegmatite Field
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65; Behier, J. (1963): Carte mineralogique de Madagascar. Archive Service Geologique A. 1871
    Mozambique
     
    • Zambezia Province
      • Alto Ligonha District
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65
    Uganda
     
    • Wakiso District
      • Busiiro Co. (Bushiro Co.)
    		Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 65
    Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997): Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 63
    USA
     
    • California
      • San Diego Co.
        • Pala District
          • Pala
            • Tourmaline Queen Mountain (Pala Mtn; Queen Mtn)
    		San Diego Mining Company (2009)
    • New Mexico
      • Taos Co.
        • Picuris District
    		Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.; Jahns, R. H. and Ewing, R. C. (1977): The Harding mine, Taos County, New Mexico. Mineralogical Record, 8 (2): 115-126.
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Manicaland
    		Gallagher, M.J. (1967): Phosphates and other minerals in pegmatites of Rhodesia and Uganda. Mineralogical Magazine. 36, 50-59
    Mineral and/or Locality
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