Lithiotantite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Lithiotantite
Formula:
LiTa3O8
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
6 - 6½
Specific Gravity:
7.0
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named for its composition, containing LITHIum and TANTalum.
Dimorph of:
Corresponds to the low-temperature form of synthetic LiTa3O8.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2390
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2390:6
IMA Classification of Lithiotantite
Approved
IMA Formula:
LiTa5+3O8
Approval year:
1982
First published:
1983
Classification of Lithiotantite
4.DB.40
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
8.7.7.1
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
7 : Miscellaneous
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
7 : Miscellaneous
18.1.1
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ltan | 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 Lithiotantite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Comment:
creamy pink to brownish pink when included by cassiterite
Streak:
White
Hardness:
6 - 6½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN40=1200 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density:
7.0 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.08 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Lithiotantite
Type:
Biaxial
Anisotropism:
Weak
Dispersion:
Strong
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 486nm | 18.6% | 18.5% |
| 553nm | 18.5% | 18.3% |
| 589nm | 18.6% | 18.3% |
| 656nm | 19.1% | 19.0% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 19.1%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
Grayish-white
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
n = >1.9
Chemistry of Lithiotantite
Mindat Formula:
LiTa3O8
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Lithiotantite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.444 Å, b = 5.044 Å, c = 15.255 Å
β = 107.18°
β = 107.18°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.476 : 1 : 3.024
Unit Cell V:
547.23 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018780 | Lithiotantite | Menezes L A D, Yang H, Downs R T, Chaves M L S C, Persiano A C (2012) Lithiotantite, ideally LiTa3O8 Acta Crystallographica E68 i27-i28 |  | 2012 | Murundu mine, the Jenipapo District, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 2.96 Å | (100) |
| 1.722 Å | (80) |
| 1.451 Å | (80) |
| 1.772 Å | (60b) |
| 4.13 Å | (50) |
| 2.490 Å | (50) |
| 1.900 Å | (50) |
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 Lithiotantite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Equant, poorly formed crystals up to 0.4 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, 1655/1.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 82543.
A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 82543.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Granite pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Lithiotantite
Other Language Names for Lithiotantite
Relationship of Lithiotantite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Wodginite Group:
| Achalaite | (Fe2+,Mn)(Ti,Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ta)2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Ferrotitanowodginite | Fe2+TiTa2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Ferrowodginite | Fe2+Sn4+Ta2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Lithiowodginite | LiTa3O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Tantalowodginite | (Mn2+0.5◻0.5)TaTa2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Titanowodginite | Mn2+TiTa2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 6 photos of Lithiotantite associated with Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| 5 photos of Lithiotantite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 5 photos of Lithiotantite associated with Thoreaulite | Sn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4 photos of Lithiotantite associated with Rankamaite | (Na,K)3(Ta,Nb,Al)11(O,OH)31 |
| 1 photo of Lithiotantite associated with Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DB. | Tianhongqiite | CrTiO3(OH) |
| 4.DB. | Nioboheftetjernite | ScNbO4 |
| 4.DB. | Huangshanite | Fe3+TaO4 |
| 4.DB. | Nioboixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Nb0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB. | Shakhdaraite-(Y) | ScYNb2O8 |
| 4.DB.05 | Varlamoffite | Sn1-xFexO2-x(OH) |
| 4.DB.05 | Argutite | GeO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Rutile | TiO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Plattnerite | PbO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tripuhyite | Fe3+Sb5+O4 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tugarinovite | MoO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.10 | Byströmite | MgSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Ordoñezite | ZnSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tredouxite | NiSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.15a | Paramontroseite | V4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15a | Ramsdellite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15b | Akhtenskite | ε-Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15c | Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| 4.DB.20 | Scrutinyite | α-PbO2 |
| 4.DB.20 | Nioboixiolite-([]) | (Nb0.8◻0.2)4+O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ishikawaite | U4+Fe2+Nb2O8 |
| 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-(Sc) | (Ta0.5Sc0.5)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Fe2+) | (Ta0.67Fe2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Ta0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Nioboixiolite-(Fe2+) | (Nb0.67Fe2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Srilankite | TiO2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Nioboixiolite-(Fe3+) | (Nb0.5Fe3+0.5)O2 |
| 4.DB.30 va | Wolframite Group | |
| 4.DB.30 | Rossovskyite | (Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ti)O4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Huanzalaite | MgWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Heftetjernite | ScTaO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Hübnerite | MnWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Sanmartinite | (Zn,Fe)WO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Ferberite | FeWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | 'Krasnoselskite' | CoWO4 |
| 4.DB.35 | Qitianlingite | (Fe,Mn)2(Nb,Ta)2WO10 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalaeschynite-(Ce) | Ce(TiTa)O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrotitanowodginite | Fe2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | 'Wolframowodginite' | Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Lithiowodginite | LiTa3O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Titanowodginite | Mn2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Tantalowodginite | (Mn2+0.5◻0.5)TaTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrowodginite | Fe2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 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] |
Fluorescence of Lithiotantite
None
Other Information
Notes:
Weak yellow-green cathodoluminescence.
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 Lithiotantite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2390.html
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References for Lithiotantite
Localities for Lithiotantite
Showing 6 localities.
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.
Brazil | |
| specimen from Luis Menezes |
| Menezes Filho et al. (2012) +1 other reference | |
DR Congo | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analythical data of ... |
Kazakhstan | |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Voloshin et al. (1983) +1 other reference |
Spain | |
| Dill et al. (2023) |
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Ognevka Ta deposit, Ulan District, East Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan