Tantalite-(Mn)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Tantalite-(Mn)
Formula:
Mn2+Ta2O6
Colour:
Pink to nearly colourless, reddish brown to black
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
6
Specific Gravity:
6.65 - 8
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
From the manganese content and for the Greek mythical figure Tantalus - for its difficulty in dissolving.
Type Locality:
Tantalite-(Fe)-Tantalite-(Mn) Series and Columbite-(Mn)-Tantalite-(Mn) Series.
Formerly known as manganotantalite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Tantalite-(Mn).
Formerly known as manganotantalite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Tantalite-(Mn).Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2522
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2522:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
170f506e-f4bd-4e1e-aa14-b705bbeaa707
IMA Classification of Tantalite-(Mn)
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA status notes:
Renamed by the IMA
Classification of Tantalite-(Mn)
4.DB.35
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
8.3.2.3
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
3 : AB2O6
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
3 : AB2O6
18.1.36
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
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ttl-Mn | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Tnt | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Physical Properties of Tantalite-(Mn)
Vitreous, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Pink to nearly colourless, reddish brown to black
Streak:
Red, scarlet to black
Hardness:
6 on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=488 - 681 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
Distinct on {100}
Less distinct {010}
Distinct on {100}
Less distinct {010}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
6.65 - 8 g/cm3 (Measured) 8.01 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Tantalite-(Mn)
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 2.140 nβ = 2.150 nγ = 2.340
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.200
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
r < v strong
Optical Extinction:
Parallel. X = a; Y = b; Z = c.
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|
| 400nm | 15.5% | 16.4% |
| 420nm | 15.1% | 16.0% |
| 440nm | 14.8% | 15.7% |
| 460nm | 14.6% | 15.4% |
| 480nm | 14.3% | 15.2% |
| 500nm | 14.1% | 15.0% |
| 520nm | 13.9% | 14.8% |
| 540nm | 13.8% | 14.7% |
| 560nm | 13.6% | 14.5% |
| 580nm | 13.6% | 14.4% |
| 600nm | 13.5% | 14.4% |
| 620nm | 13.5% | 14.3% |
| 640nm | 13.4% | 14.3% |
| 660nm | 13.4% | 14.3% |
| 680nm | 13.3% | 14.2% |
| 700nm | 13.3% | 14.2% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 16.4%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
Red, red-brown, orange
Comments:
Absorption: Strong. Z > X.
Chemistry of Tantalite-(Mn)
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+Ta2O6
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Nb
Crystallography of Tantalite-(Mn)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbcn
Cell Parameters:
a = 14.44 Å, b = 5.7661(8) Å, c = 5.093 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.504 : 1 : 0.883
Unit Cell V:
424.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Short prismatic to tabular.
Twinning:
On {021}, {023}.
Pseudohexagonal trillings.
Pseudohexagonal trillings.
Comment:
On synthetic material
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005131 | Tantalite-(Mn) | Grice J D, Ferguson R B, Hawthorne F C (1976) The crystal structures of tantalite, ixiolite and wodginite from Bernic lake, Manitoba I. Tantalite and ixiolite The Canadian Mineralogist 14 540-549 |  | 1976 | Bernic lake, Manitoba, Canada | 0 | 293 |
| 0009323 | Tantalite-(Mn) | Klein S, Weitzel H (1976) Magnetische struktur von Mn(Nb0.5Ta0.5)2O6, manganotantalit Acta Crystallographica A32 587-591 |  | 1976 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018628 | Tantalite-(Mn) | dos Santos C A, Zawislak L I, Kinast E J, Antonietti V, da Cunha J B M (2001) Crystal chemistry and structure of the orthorhombic (Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)2O6 family of compounds Brazilian Journal of Physics 31 616-631 | 2001 | Brazil | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.99 Å | (100) |
| 3.69 Å | (90) |
| 2.41 Å | (70) |
| 1.738 Å | (70) |
| 1.483 Å | (70) |
| 7.25 Å | (50) |
| 3.61 Å | (50) |
Comments:
Salinas, Brazil.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Geological Setting:
Accessory mineral in granitic pegmatites.
Type Occurrence of Tantalite-(Mn)
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Synonyms of Tantalite-(Mn)
Other Language Names for Tantalite-(Mn)
Relationship of Tantalite-(Mn) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
| Columbite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 | Orth. |
| Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
| Qitianlingite | (Fe,Mn)2(Nb,Ta)2WO10 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Tantalite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
| Tantalite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 75 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 59 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 55 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 34 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| 31 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Microlite Group | A2-mTa2X6-wZ-n |
| 29 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 28 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
| 26 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Cleavelandite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 22 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Aquamarine | Be3Al2Si6O18 |
| 20 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Lepidolite |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DB. | Nioboheftetjernite | ScNbO4 |
| 4.DB. | Shakhdaraite-(Y) | ScYNb2O8 |
| 4.DB. | Nioboixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Nb0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB. | Nioboixiolite-([]) | (Nb0.8◻0.2)4+O2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Argutite | GeO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Plattnerite | PbO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Rutile | TiO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tripuhyite | Fe3+Sb5+O4 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tugarinovite | MoO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Varlamoffite | (Sn,Fe)(O,OH)2 |
| 4.DB.10 | Byströmite | MgSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Ordoñezite | ZnSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tredouxite | NiSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.15b | Akhtenskite | ε-Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15c | Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| 4.DB.15a | Paramontroseite | V4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15a | Ramsdellite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.20 | Scrutinyite | α-PbO2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ishikawaite | U4+Fe2+Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Srilankite | ZrTi2O6 |
| 4.DB.25 | Yttrocolumbite-(Y) | Y(U4+,Fe2+)Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Calciosamarskite | (Ca,U4+)Fe3+(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Yb) | YbFe3+(Nb,Ta)2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Fe2+) | (Ta0.67Fe2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Ta0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.30 | Ferberite | FeWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Hübnerite | MnWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Sanmartinite | (Zn,Fe)WO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Krasnoselskite | CoWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Heftetjernite | ScTaO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Huanzalaite | MgWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 va | Wolframite Group | |
| 4.DB.30 | Rossovskyite | (Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ti)O4 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Qitianlingite | (Fe,Mn)2(Nb,Ta)2WO10 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrowodginite | Fe2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Lithiotantite | LiTa3O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Lithiowodginite | LiTa3O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Titanowodginite | Mn2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrotitanowodginite | Fe2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Tantalowodginite | (Mn2+0.5◻0.5)TaTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Wolframowodginite | Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)2O8 |
| 4.DB.45 | Tivanite | V3+TiO3(OH) |
| 4.DB.50 | Carmichaelite | (Ti,Cr,Fe)[O2-x(OH)x] |
| 4.DB.55 | Alumotantite | AlTaO4 |
| 4.DB.60 | Biehlite | ((Sb,As)O)2[MoO4] |
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.
Internet Links for Tantalite-(Mn)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2522.html
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References for Tantalite-(Mn)
Reference List:
Localities for Tantalite-(Mn)
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Morefield Mine, Winterham, Amelia County, Virginia, USA