Tapiolite
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Tapiolite
Formula:
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)2O6
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Adamantine, Sub-Adamantine, Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
6 - 6½
Specific Gravity:
7.35 - 7.37
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named in 1863 by A. E. Nordenskiold after an ancient Finnish divinity.
A name for chemically unanalysed members of the Tapiolite-(Fe)-Tapiolite-(Mn) Series.
The original iron-dominant tapiolite material came from "near Kulmala Farm", Sukula, Tammela, Etelä-Suomen Lääni, Finland.
The original iron-dominant tapiolite material came from "near Kulmala Farm", Sukula, Tammela, Etelä-Suomen Lääni, Finland.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3887
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3887:0
Similar Names
| Tapiolite-(Fe) | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| Tapiolite-(Fe)-Tapiolite-(Mn) Series | A solid-solution series between two end-member minerals | |
| Tapiolite-(Mn) | A valid IMA mineral species | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
Classification of Tapiolite
18.1.46
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
Physical Properties of Tapiolite
Adamantine, Sub-Adamantine, Metallic, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Black
Hardness:
6 - 6½ on Mohs scale
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
7.35 - 7.37 g/cm3 (Measured)
Chemistry of Tapiolite
Mindat Formula:
(Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb)2O6
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Tapiolite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Morphology:
Short prismatic [001] or equant, with {001}, {100}, {110} and {113} usually well developed. Untwinned crystals often appear monoclinic or orthorhombic due to distortion.
Twinning:
On {013}, very common. The twins are distorted by elongation on [0_31] (parallel to an adjacent pair of 113 faces) and simulate orthorhombic symmetry. Also twinned on {101}, rare.
Geological Environment
Geological Setting:
Granite pegmatite
Synonyms of Tapiolite
Other Language Names for Tapiolite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Tapiolite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 2 photos of Tapiolite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 2 photos of Tapiolite associated with Mica Group | |
| 1 photo of Tapiolite associated with Brazilianite | NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 |
| 1 photo of Tapiolite associated with Pyrochlore Group | A2Nb2(O,OH)6Z |
| 1 photo of Tapiolite associated with Microlite Group | A2-mTa2X6-wZ1-n |
| 1 photo of Tapiolite associated with Stibiotantalite | Sb3+TaO4 |
| 1 photo of Tapiolite associated with Tourmaline | AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
Fluorescence of Tapiolite
Not fluorescent
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 Tapiolite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3887.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Tapiolite
Reference List:
Localities for Tapiolite
Showing 120 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.
Angola | |
| Gonçalves et al. (2019) |
Argentina | |
| GALLISKI (1983) +1 other reference |
| Galliski et al. (2002) | |
Australia | |
| Henley et al. (2001) |
| Forsythe (1981) |
| Forsythe (1981) | |
| Forsythe (1981) | |
| Forsythe (1981) | |
| Forsythe (1981) | |
| Forsythe (1981) | |
| Forsythe (1981) | |
| Jacobson et al. (2007) |
| Jacobson et al. (2007) |
| Jacobson et al. (2007) | |
| E.S. Simpson +3 other references | |
| Fetherston (2004) |
| Simpson (1928) | |
| Jacobson et al. (2007) |
| Jacobson et al. (2007) +2 other references |
| Jacobson et al. (2007) +2 other references |
| Jacobson et al. (2007) +2 other references |
| Pegamtites of Western Australia +2 other references |
Austria | |
| H. Westenberger collection |
| Mali (2004) |
Brazil | |
| William C. van Laer | |
| Cassedanne (1983) |
| found by Christian Bracke. |
| Cassedame et al. (1986) |
| Lavinsky (n.d.) |
Canada | |
| Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 11 (1972) |
| Bannatyne (1985) |
| Nova Scotia Mineral Occurrence Database +1 other reference |
| P.B. Tomascak et al. (1994) |
China | |
| Rao +4 other references |
| Fu et al. (2023) |
| He et al. (2022) |
| Xia et al. (2025) |
| Zhou |
| Gao et al. (2026) |
Czech Republic | |
| Kruťa et al. (1968) |
| Novák |
| Sejkora (1998) |
DR Congo | |
| Melcher et al. (2015) |
| Melcher et al. (2015) | |
| Dewaele et al. (2016) |
Egypt | |
| Küster (2009) |
| Küster (2009) | |
Ethiopia | |
| Küster et al. (2009) |
Europe | |
| Berbain et al. (2012) | |
Finland | |
| Wilke (1976) |
| Wilke (1976) +1 other reference | |
| Kojonen et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
| Lynch et al. (2025) |
| Laitakari (1967) |
| - (1899) |
| Laitakari (1967) | |
France | |
| Patureau (2008) |
| Berbain et al. (2012) |
Germany | |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Wittern (2001) |
Ghana | |
| Adams et al. (2023) |
India | |
| Singh et al. (2017) |
| Maithani +1 other reference |
| Acharya et al. (1982) |
Indian Plate | |
| Singh et al. (1991) | |
Italy | |
| luigi chiappino specimen |
| Vittorio Mattioli (1976) |
Madagascar | |
| Behier (1963) |
Malaysia | |
| Kiong et al. (2004) |
| Teh (1981) |
Mozambique | |
| M.M.Godinho |
Namibia | |
| www.mineral.tu-freiberg.de (2003) |
| Keller (1991) | |
| Bezing et al. (2007) |
Nigeria | |
| Rotimi et al. (2012) |
Norway | |
| Neumann (1985) |
| Dittrich (1980) |
| Brøgger (1883) |
| Brøgger (1897) +1 other reference |
Pakistan | |
| - (2004) |
| Blauwet et al. (2004) |
| imported from Rondu District +1 other reference | |
Poland | |
| Lis et al. (1986) |
Romania | |
| Hirtopanu (2006) |
Russia | |
| Igor Savin's data |
| Gonevchuk et al. (2005) |
Rwanda | |
| Pohl et al. (2013) |
Slovakia | |
| Koděra et al. (1986) |
Somalia | |
| Küster (2009) |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Spain | |
| Losantos et al. (2025) |
| Llorens et al. (2010) +1 other reference |
| Alfonso et al. (2000) |
| & locality references +1 other reference | |
| Alfonso et al. (2018) +1 other reference |
Uganda | |
| v. Knorring et al. (1969) |
| Royal Museum for Central Africa specimen Sample n° 13805 (donated by von Knorring 1980) | |
Ukraine | |
| Shatalov (2017) |
| Lazarenko E.K. e.a. Mineralogy of ... |
| Liventseva (n.d.) |
USA | |
| - (1989) +1 other reference |
| Jarnot (1989) |
| King et al. (1994) +1 other reference |
| King et al. (1994) | |
| Guidebook 1 to Mineral Collecting in ... +1 other reference |
| |
| Smith et al. (2000) |
| Meeves et al. (1966) +1 other reference |
| Rocks & Minerals: 67 (6) |
| William C. van Laer | |
| Černý et al. (1985) | |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| www.uwrf.edu/~wc01 |
| Rocks&Min 76:23-241 |
| Hausel et al. (2001) |
Zimbabwe | |
| Černý et al. (2003) |
| J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy (1997) | |
| Melcher et al. (2015) |
Alto dos Quintos Mine, Parelhas, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil