Alumotantite
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About Alumotantite
Formula:
AlTaO4
Colour:
Colourless to white
Lustre:
Adamantine, Greasy
Hardness:
7½
Specific Gravity:
7.48 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
For ALUMinium and TANTalum in the composition
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Alumotantite.
Classification of Alumotantite
Approved
4/D.27-30
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
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
8.1.7.1
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
18.1.18
18 : Niobates and Tantalates
1 : Niobates and tantalates containing neither rare earths nor U
18 : Niobates and Tantalates
1 : Niobates and tantalates containing neither rare earths nor U
Physical Properties of Alumotantite
Adamantine, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless to white
Hardness:
7½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=1650 - 1690 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Density:
7.48 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Alumotantite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
Reflectivity:
486 nm | R1=15.6% | R2= 14.7% |
589 nm | R1=15.4% | R2= 14.6% |
656 nm | R1=15.9% | R2= 15.1% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 15.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Chemical Properties of Alumotantite
Formula:
AlTaO4
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Sn
Crystallography of Alumotantite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbcn
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.475 Å, b = 11.308 Å, c = 4.771 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.396 : 1 : 0.422
Unit Cell 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
as rims and parallel oriented intergrowths on simpsonite, also rims around natrotantite, which in turn rims simpsonite crystals
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0005280 | Alumotantite | Ercit T S, Hawthorne F C, Cerny P (1992) The crystal structure of alumotantite: Its relation to the structures of simpsonite and the (Al,Ga)(Ta,Nb)O4 compounds The Canadian Mineralogist 30 653-662 | ![]() | 1992 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
1.649 Å | (5) |
1.837 Å | (5) |
2.439 Å | (5) |
2.89 Å | (8) |
3.13 Å | (10) |
3.64 Å | (7) |
5.66 Å | (5) |
Comments:
Material from Kola Peninsula, Russia
Geological Environment
Geological Setting:
in albitized areas of highly fractionated rare element-enriched granite pegmatites
Type Occurrence of Alumotantite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Geology Museum, Kola Branch, Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia
Geological Setting of Type Material:
albitized area of a highly fractionated rare element-enriched granite pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Alumotantite
Other Language Names for Alumotantite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
3 photos of Alumotantite associated with Simpsonite | Al4Ta3O13(OH) |
2 photos of Alumotantite associated with Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
4.DB.05 | Argutite | GeO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
4.DB.05 | Cassiterite | SnO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
4.DB.05 | Plattnerite | PbO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
4.DB.05 | Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
4.DB.05 | Rutile | TiO2 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
4.DB.05 | Tripuhyite | Fe3+Sb5+O4 | Tet. |
4.DB.05 | Tugarinovite | MoO2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
4.DB.05 | Varlamoffite | (Sn,Fe)(O,OH)2 | |
4.DB.10 | Byströmite | MgSb2O6 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm |
4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
4.DB.10 | Ordoñezite | ZnSb2O6 | Tet. |
4.DB.15b | Akhtenskite | ε-Mn4+O2 | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
4.DB.15c | Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 | Hex. |
4.DB.15a | Paramontroseite | V4+O2 | Orth. |
4.DB.15a | Ramsdellite | Mn4+O2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
4.DB.20 | Scrutinyite | α-PbO2 | Orth. |
4.DB.25 | Ishikawaite | U4+Fe2+Nb2O8 | Mon. |
4.DB.25 | Ixiolite | (Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)4O8 | Orth. |
4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
4.DB.25 | Srilankite | ZrTi2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
4.DB.25 | Yttrocolumbite-(Y) | Y(U4+,Fe2+)Nb2O8 | |
4.DB.25 | Calciosamarskite | (Ca,Fe3+,Y)2(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O8 | Mon. |
4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Yb) | (Yb,Y,U,Th,Ca,Fe)(Nb,Ta)2O8 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
4.DB.30 | Ferberite | FeWO4 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
4.DB.30 | Hübnerite | MnWO4 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
4.DB.30 | Sanmartinite | (Zn,Fe)WO4 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
4.DB.30 | Krasnoselskite | CoWO4 | Mon. |
4.DB.30 | Heftetjernite | ScTaO4 | Mon. 2/m |
4.DB.30 | Huanzalaite | MgWO4 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 | Orth. |
4.DB.35 | Qitianlingite | (Fe,Mn)2(Nb,Ta)2WO10 | Orth. |
4.DB.35 | Magnocolumbite | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 | |
4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
4.DB.40 | Ferrowodginite | Fe2+Sn4+Ta2O8 | Mon. |
4.DB.40 | Lithiotantite | LiTa3O8 | Mon. |
4.DB.40 | Lithiowodginite | LiTa3O8 | Mon. |
4.DB.40 | Titanowodginite | Mn2+TiTa2O8 | Mon. |
4.DB.40 | Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
4.DB.40 | Ferrotitanowodginite | Fe2+TiTa2O8 | Mon. |
4.DB.40 | Wolframowodginite | Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)2O8 | |
4.DB.45 | Tivanite | V3+TiO3(OH) | Mon. |
4.DB.50 | Carmichaelite | (Ti,Cr,Fe)[O2-x(OH)x] | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
4.DB.60 | Biehlite | ((Sb,As)O)2[MoO4] | Mon. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
18.1.1 | Lithiotantite | LiTa3O8 | Mon. |
18.1.2 | Lueshite | NaNbO3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
18.1.3 | Natroniobite | NaNbO3 | Mon. |
18.1.4 | Franconite | Na(Nb2O5)(OH) · 3H2O | Mon. |
18.1.5 | Natrotantite | Na2Ta4O11 | Mon. |
18.1.6 | Irtyshite | Na2(Ta,Nb)4O11 | Hex. |
18.1.7 | Rankamaite | (Na,K)3(Ta,Nb,Al)11(O,OH)31 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmmm |
18.1.8 | Hydropyrochlore | (H2O,◻)2Nb2(O,OH)6(H2O) | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
18.1.9 | Calciotantite | CaTa4O11 | Hex. |
18.1.10 | Rynersonite | CaTa2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
18.1.11 | Microlite Group | A2-mTa2X6-wZ-n | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
18.1.12 | Belyankinite | Ca1-2(Ti,Nb)5O12 · 9H2O (?) | Amor. |
18.1.13 | Latrappite | Ca2NbFe3+O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
18.1.14 | Hochelagaite | (Ca,Na,Sr)(Nb,Ti,Si,Al)4O11 · 8H2O | Mon. |
18.1.15 | Bariomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977) | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m | |
18.1.16 | Parabariomicrolite | BaTa4O10(OH)2 · 2H2O | Trig. |
18.1.17 | Bariopyrochlore (of Hogarth 1977) | A2Nb2(O,OH)6Z | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
18.1.19 | Simpsonite | Al4Ta3O13(OH) | Trig. 3 : P3 |
18.1.20 | Sosedkoite | (K,Na)5Al2(Ta,Nb)22O60 | Orth. |
18.1.21 | Thoreaulite | (Sn2+,Pb)(Ta,Nb)2O6 | Mon. |
18.1.22 | Stannomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977) | ||
18.1.23 | Foordite | Sn2+(Nb,Ta)2O6 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
18.1.24 | Changbaiite | PbNb2O6 | Trig. |
18.1.25 | Plumbopyrochlore (of Skorobogatova et al.) | A2Nb2(O,OH)6Z | |
18.1.26 | Plumbomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977) | ||
18.1.27 | Stibiocolumbite | Sb(Nb,Ta)O4 | Orth. mm2 |
18.1.28 | Stibiotantalite | Sb(Ta,Nb)O4 | Orth. mm2 |
18.1.29 | Natrobistantite | Iso. | |
18.1.30 | Cesplumtantite | (Cs,Na)2(Pb,Sb3+)3Ta8O24 | Tet. |
18.1.31 | Stibiomicrolite (of Groat et al.) | ||
18.1.32 | Cesstibtantite | ||
18.1.34 | Bismutotantalite | Bi(Ta,Nb)O4 | Orth. |
18.1.35 | Bismutomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977) | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m | |
18.1.36 | Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
18.1.37 | Gerasimovskite | (Mn,Ca)(Nb,Ti)5O12 · 9H2O | Amor. |
18.1.38 | Tapiolite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
18.1.39 | Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
18.1.40 | Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
18.1.41 | Ixiolite | (Ta,Nb,Sn,Fe,Mn)4O8 | Orth. |
18.1.42 | Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
18.1.43 | Tantalite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
18.1.44 | Columbite | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn | |
18.1.45 | Tantalite | (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)2O6 | |
18.1.46 | Tapiolite | (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)2O6 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) |
18.1.47 | Tapiolite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P42/mnm |
18.1.48 | Columbite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 | Orth. |
18.1.50 | Strüverite | (Ti,Ta,Fe)O2 | |
18.1.51 | Staringite | (Fe,Mn)x(Ta,Nb)2xSn6-3xO12 |
Fluorescence of Alumotantite
Bright blue cathodoluminescence
Other Information
Health Risks:
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:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Voloshin, A.V., Men'shikov, Y.P., Pakhomovskii, Y.A. (1981) Alumotantite and natrotantite, new tantalum minerals in granitic pegmatites. Zapiski Vsesoyuznogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 110: 338-345. [in Russian]
Fleischer, M., Burns, R.G., Cabri, L.J., Francis, C.A., Pabst, A. (1982) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 67: 413-418. [abstract]
Ercit, T.S., Hawthorne, F.C., Černý, P. (1992) The crystal structure of alumotantite: its relation to the structures of simpsonite and the (Al,Ga)(Ta,Nb)O4 compounds. The Canadian Mineralogist: 30: 653-662.
Jambor, J.L., Burke, E.A.J. (1993) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 78: 845-849.
Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997) Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 10.
Internet Links for Alumotantite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-159.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Alumotantite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Brazil | |
| http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/parabariomicrolite.pdf.; Canadian Mineralogist (1986): 24: 655-663. |
DR Congo | |
| Voloshin A.V., Pakhomovskii Ya.A. (1988) Mineralogy of tantalum and niobium in rare-metal pegmatites, - Leningrad, Nauka, p. 240 (in Rus.) |
Kazakhstan | |
| A.V. Voloshin analytical data |
Russia (TL) | |
| Voloshin, A.V., Men'shikov, Y.P., Pakhomovskii, Y.A. (1981) Alumotantite and natrotantite, new tantalum minerals in granitic pegmatites. Zapiski Vsesoyuznogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 110: 338-345.; Anthony, J.W., et al. (1997) Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. III.; 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 | |
| J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. III (1997) |
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Alto do Giz pegmatite, Equador, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil