Tantalite | |
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![]() Tantalite, Pilbara district, Australia | |
General | |
Category | Oxide minerals |
Formula (repeating unit) | (Fe,Mn)Ta2O6 |
IMA symbol | Ttl[1] |
Strunz classification | 4.DB.35 |
Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
Crystal class | Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
Space group | Pbcn (no. 60) |
Identification | |
Color | Dark black, iron-black to dark brown, reddish brown |
Cleavage | Good in one direction |
Fracture | Subconchoidal |
Mohs scale hardness | 6–6.5 |
Luster | Submetallic to almost resinous |
Streak | Brownish-red to black |
Specific gravity | 8.0+ |
References | [2][3] |
The mineral group tantalite [(Fe, Mn)Ta2O6] is the primary source of the chemical element tantalum, a corrosion (heat and acid) resistant metal. It is chemically similar to columbite, and the two are often grouped together as a semi-singular mineral called coltan or "columbite-tantalite" in many mineral guides. However, tantalite has a much greater specific gravity than columbite (8.0+ compared to columbite's 5.2).[3] Iron-rich tantalite is the mineral tantalite-(Fe) or ferrotantalite and manganese-rich is tantalite-(Mn) or manganotantalite.
Tantalite is also very close to tapiolite. Those minerals have the same chemical composition, but different crystal symmetry: orthorhombic for tantalite and tetragonal for tapiolite.[4]
Tantalite is black to brown in both color and streak. Manganese-rich tantalites can be brown and translucent.