Mineralpedia Details for Tantalite-(Mn)
Tantalite-(Mn)
- Formula
- Mn2+Ta2O6
- Crystal System
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal Habit
- Crystalline - Fine, Massive - Granular, Disseminated
- Cleavage
- Imperfect, None, None
- Luster
- Sub Metallic
- Color
- black, brown
- Streak
- brown
- Class
- Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Brittle - Uneven
- Hardness
- 6-6.5
- WebMineral
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- View Tantalite-(Mn)
Tantalite-(Mn) from Harding mine, Taos Co., New Mexico, United States
This is actually a well-formed Tantalite crystal with many faces and only one detachment side.
The Harding pegmatite was once mined by Arthur Montgomeryite for the mineral tantalum in the early 1940's for the war effort. Tantalum was used in radio tubes in those days. The Harding pegmatite was also mined for lepidolite and spodumene for its lithium content as well as Beryl for beryllium. I believe it is now owend by the NM School of Mines. This specimen is from the late Art Smith collection.
Click thumbnail images for larger view.
Tantalite-(Mn) from Alto do Giz pegmatite, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
A thick tabular, shiny, very nice crystal of Tantalite. The crystal tapers downward and has many slightly striated faces.
Click thumbnail images for larger view.
