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(3): 338-345.

Classification of NatrotantiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

4.DJ.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
J : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; polyhedral frameworks

Dana 8th ed.:

8.6.2.2

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
6 : (AB)₆O₁₁·nH₂O

Hey's CIM Ref.:

18.1.5

18 : Niobates and Tantalates
1 : Niobates and tantalates containing neither rare earths nor U

Mineral SymbolsHide

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
Ntan	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 NatrotantiteHide

Lustre:

Adamantine

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

Colorless with slight yellow tint

Streak:

White

Hardness:

7 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₄₀=1270 kg/mm² - Vickers

Cleavage:

None Observed

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Optical Data of NatrotantiteHide

Type:

Uniaxial

Anisotropism:

Strong

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁ (%)	R₂ (%)
486nm	15.0%	13.6%
589nm	12.4%	11.8%
656nm	12.0%	12.0%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 15.0%.
R₁ shown in black, R₂ shown in red

Chemistry of NatrotantiteHide

Mindat Formula:

Na₂Ta₄O₁₁

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Ta	76.530 %
O	18.609 %
Na	4.862 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

Na, O, Ta - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of NatrotantiteHide

Crystal System:

Trigonal

Class (H-M):

3m(32/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral

Space Group:

R3c

Setting:

R3c

Cell Parameters:

a = 6.2092(1) Å, c = 36.619(1) Å

Ratio:

a:c = 1 : 5.898

Unit Cell V:

1,222.67 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Intergrown with microlite, rimming simpsonite

Comment:

synthetic

Crystal StructureHide

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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)
0012086	Natrotantite	Ercit T S, Hawthorne F C, Cerny P (1985) Locality: synthetic The crystal structure of synthetic natrotantite Bulletin de Mineralogie 108 541-549		1985		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Natrotantite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Ercit T S'
'Hawthorne F C'
'Cerny P'
_journal_name_full 'Bulletin de Mineralogie'
_journal_volume 108 
_journal_year 1985
_journal_page_first 541
_journal_page_last 549
_publ_section_title
;
 The crystal structure of synthetic natrotantite
;
_database_code_amcsd 0012086
_chemical_compound_source 'Synthetic'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Na2 Ta4 O11'
_cell_length_a 6.2092
_cell_length_b 6.2092
_cell_length_c 36.6190
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 120
_cell_volume 1222.668
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      7.707
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'R -3 c'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '2/3+x,1/3+y,1/3+z'
  '1/3+x,2/3+y,2/3+z'
  'x,x-y,1/2+z'
  '2/3+x,1/3+x-y,5/6+z'
  '1/3+x,2/3+x-y,1/6+z'
  'y,x,1/2-z'
  '2/3+y,1/3+x,5/6-z'
  '1/3+y,2/3+x,1/6-z'
  '-x+y,y,1/2+z'
  '2/3-x+y,1/3+y,5/6+z'
  '1/3-x+y,2/3+y,1/6+z'
  '-x,-x+y,1/2-z'
  '2/3-x,1/3-x+y,5/6-z'
  '1/3-x,2/3-x+y,1/6-z'
  '-y,-x,1/2+z'
  '2/3-y,1/3-x,5/6+z'
  '1/3-y,2/3-x,1/6+z'
  'x-y,-y,1/2-z'
  '2/3+x-y,1/3-y,5/6-z'
  '1/3+x-y,2/3-y,1/6-z'
  'y,-x+y,-z'
  '2/3+y,1/3-x+y,1/3-z'
  '1/3+y,2/3-x+y,2/3-z'
  '-x+y,-x,z'
  '2/3-x+y,1/3-x,1/3+z'
  '1/3-x+y,2/3-x,2/3+z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
  '2/3-x,1/3-y,1/3-z'
  '1/3-x,2/3-y,2/3-z'
  '-y,x-y,z'
  '2/3-y,1/3+x-y,1/3+z'
  '1/3-y,2/3+x-y,2/3+z'
  'x-y,x,-z'
  '2/3+x-y,1/3+x,1/3-z'
  '1/3+x-y,2/3+x,2/3-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Na   0.00000   0.00000   0.33230   0.03926
Ta1   0.36410   0.00000   0.25000   0.03977
Ta2   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000   0.04255
O1   0.05200   0.41400   0.19750   0.02786
O2   0.75000   0.00000   0.25000   0.04559
O3   0.00000   0.00000   0.40740   0.02280

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.02 Å	(100b)
2.778 Å	(90b)
1.556 Å	(80)
1.548 Å	(80)
3.06 Å	(70)
2.474 Å	(60b)
1.799 Å	(60b)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
34 : Complex granite pegmatites

Type Occurrence of NatrotantiteHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ Vasin-Myl'k Mt, Voron'i Tundry, Murmansk Oblast, Russia

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Geology Museum, Kola Branch, Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia, 5518.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Granite pegmatite

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Alumotantite

Microlite Group

Simpsonite

Reference:

Synonyms of NatrotantiteHide

IMA1980-026

Natrotantine

Other Language Names for NatrotantiteHide

Dutch:Natrotantiet

German:Natrotantit

Russian:Натротантит

Spanish:Natrotantita

Relationship of Natrotantite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Natrotantite Group

Other Members of Natrotantite Group:

Calciotantite	CaTa₄O₁₁	Hex. 622 : P6₃22
Irtyshite	Na₂(Ta,Nb)₄O₁₁	Hex.

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:

1 photo of Natrotantite associated with Simpsonite

Al₄Ta₃O₁₃(OH)

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

4.DJ.05	Irtyshite	Na₂(Ta,Nb)₄O₁₁	Hex.
4.DJ.05	Calciotantite	CaTa₄O₁₁	Hex. 622 : P6₃22

Fluorescence of NatrotantiteHide

In UV light:

None

Other InformationHide

Notes:

Strong yellow green catholuminescence.

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 NatrotantiteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-2864.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Buy from D. Joyce minerals

References for NatrotantiteHide

Reference List:

Fleischer, M., Burns, R.G., Cabri, L.J., Francis, C.A., Pabst, A. (1982) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 67, 413-418.

Ercit, T.S., Hawthorne, F.C., Černý, P. (1985) The crystal structure of synthetic natrotantite. Bulletin de Minéralogie: 108: 541-549.

(2005) Natrotantite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Belakovskiy, D., Welch, M. D., Camara, F., Gatta, G. D., Tait, K. T. (2012) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 97 (8) 1523-1530 doi:10.2138/am.2012.596

Localities for NatrotantiteHide

Showing 4 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

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Locality ListHide

- 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). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Brazil
Paraíba Junco do Seridó ⓘ Alto Cajazeiras	Pereira das Neves et al. (2018)
Rio Grande do Norte Equador ⓘ Alto do Giz pegmatite	rruff.geo.arizona.edu (n.d.) +1 other reference

Portugal
Vila Real Chaves Vidago Vilas Boas ⓘ Seixigal (Pereira de Selão)	Pedro Alves collection. Characterized ...

Russia (TL)
Murmansk Oblast Voron'i Tundry ⓘ Vasin-Myl'k Mt (TL)	Voloshin et al. (1981) +2 other references

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Natrotantite

About NatrotantiteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of NatrotantiteHide