Tantite

Tantite is a rare tantalum oxide mineral with formula: Ta₂O₅. Tantite forms transparent microscopic colorless triclinic - pedial crystals with an adamantine luster. It has a Mohs hardness of 7 and a high specific gravity of 8.45. Chemical analyses show minor inclusion (1.3%) of niobium oxide.

It was first described in 1983 for an occurrence in a pegmatite in the Kola peninsula, Russia. It has also been reported from a pegmatite complex in Florence County, Wisconsin. Associated mineral species include elbaite, lepidolite, spodumene, columbite-tantalite, wodginite, and microlite.

Further details can be found under the Tantalum Pentoxide

References

* [http://www.mindat.org/min-3884.html Mindat with location data] Accessed March 31, 2006.
* [http://www.webmineral.com/data/Tantite.shtml Webmineral data] Accessed March 31, 2006.
* [http://www.uwrf.edu/~wc01/tantite.htm Wisconsin minerals] Accessed March 31, 2006.
* [http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/tantite.pdf American Mineralogist data sheet] PDF Accessed March 31, 2006.