Columbite-(Mg)
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Columbite-(Mg)
Formula:
(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6
Colour:
Black to brownish-black
Lustre:
Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
6½
Specific Gravity:
5.17
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Originally referred to as magnocolumbite, it was changed to the current form in 2008 (Burke 2008). The name refers to the relationship to the other columbite group species, with dominant magnesium. The columbite group name refers to columbium, an old name for the element niobium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Columbite-(Mg).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2541
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2541:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
c4cf1499-d1f9-48ab-bac6-6f0a8e3b6fd8
IMA Classification of Columbite-(Mg)
Approved
IMA Formula:
MgNb2O6
First published:
1963
Classification of Columbite-(Mg)
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
8.3.2.5
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
3 : AB2O6
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
3 : AB2O6
18.1.48
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.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Clb-Mg | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Columbite-(Mg)
Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Translucent, Opaque
Colour:
Black to brownish-black
Streak:
Dark brown
Hardness:
6½ on Mohs scale
Density:
5.17 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.23 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured by suspension
Optical Data of Columbite-(Mg)
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 2.330 - 2.360 nγ = 2.390 - 2.440
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.060 - 0.080
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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
none
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
Brownish yellow on X to brownish-red on Z
Chemistry of Columbite-(Mg)
Mindat Formula:
(Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6
Crystallography of Columbite-(Mg)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.65 Å, b = 14.17 Å, c = 5.02 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.399 : 1 : 0.354
Unit Cell V:
401.90 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Twinning:
Commonly observed
Comment:
Space group n.d.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0013945 | Columbite-(Mg) | Pagola S, Carbonio R E, Alonso J A, Fernandez-Diaz M T (1997) Crystal structure refinement of Mg Nb2 O6 columbite from neutron powder diffraction data and study of the ternary system MgO-Nb2O5-NbO, with evidence of formation of new reduced pseudobrookite Mg5-xNb4+xO15-d (1.14 | 1997 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.955 Å | (10) |
| 1.723 Å | (9) |
| 1.535 Å | (9) |
| 1.470 Å | (9) |
| 1.454 Å | (9) |
| 1.197 Å | (9) |
| 1.105 Å | (9) |
| 1.771 Å | (8) |
| 1.738 Å | (8) |
| 3.63 Å | (7) |
| 1.897 Å | (7) |
| 1.139 Å | (7) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Columbite-(Mg)
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Mathias, V.V., Rossovskii, L.N., Shostatskii, A.N., Kumskova, N.M. (1963) Magnocolumbite, a new mineral. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 148: 420-423.
Synonyms of Columbite-(Mg)
Other Language Names for Columbite-(Mg)
Relationship of Columbite-(Mg) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
| 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 |
| Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
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 | Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 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 Columbite-(Mg)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2541.html
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External Links:
References for Columbite-(Mg)
Reference List:
Localities for Columbite-(Mg)
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.
Italy | |
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Madagascar | |
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Romania | |
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Russia | |
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Sweden | |
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Tajikistan (TL) | |
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Muzeinaya pegmatite vein, Pyandzh River Valley, Gorno-Badakhshan, Tajikistan