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
Similar Names
| Cantalite | A variety of | |
| Taltalite | A synonym of Tourmaline | |
| Tantalite | A discredited species name | (Mn,Fe)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| Tantalite (of Arppe) | A synonym of 'Tapiolite' | |
| Tantalite-(Fe) | A valid IMA mineral species | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| Tantalite-(Fe)-Tantalite-(Mn) Series | A solid-solution series between two end-member minerals | |
| Tantalite-(Mg) | A valid IMA mineral species | (Mg,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| Tautalite | A synonym of Allanite Group |
IMA Classification of Tantalite-(Mn)
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA status notes:
Renamed by the IMA
IMA Formula:
Mn2+Ta5+2O6
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 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 = 2.14 nβ = 2.15 nγ = 2.34
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.200
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (28°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (28°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.
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). 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
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Nb
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| Nb2O5 | 21.8 % |
| Ta2O5 | 59.56 % |
| FeO | 6.4 % |
| MnO | 9.42 % |
| TiO2 | 0.42 % |
| UO2 | 0.1 % |
| Total: | 97.7 % |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marlagalla-Allapatna, Mandya District, Karnataka, India | This zoned sample show a distinct compositional change from a tantalite-(Mn) core to a columbite-(Fe) rim. The sample is from a pegmatite. |
Crystallography of Tantalite-(Mn)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
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 Columbite Group:
| Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn |
| Columbite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 | Orth. |
| Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn |
| Qitianlingite | (Fe,Mn)2(Nb,Ta)2WO10 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Tantalite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn |
| Tantalite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)2O6 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 84 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 68 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 57 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 34 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
| 32 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with Microlite Group | A2-mTa2X6-wZ1-n |
| 32 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 Lepidolite | |
| 22 photos of Tantalite-(Mn) associated with 'Aquamarine' |
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 | 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 | Lithiotantite | LiTa3O8 |
| 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] |
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:
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 (4). p.540-549.(in fact structure of tantalite-(Mn))
Ercit, T. Scott, Wise, Michael A., Cerny, Petr (1995) Compositional and structural systematics of the columbite group. American Mineralogist, 80 (5) 613-619 doi:10.2138/am-1995-5-619
Localities for Tantalite-(Mn)
Showing 277 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.
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Morefield Mine, Winterham, Amelia County, Virginia, USA