Alumotantite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Alumotantite
Formula:
AlTaO4
Colour:
Colourless to white
Lustre:
Adamantine, Greasy
Hardness:
7½
Specific Gravity:
7.48 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
For ALUMinium and TANTalum in the composition
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Alumotantite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
159
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:159:1
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
96f7b849-c7cc-4aac-af5b-40d6ca4e2929
IMA Classification of Alumotantite
Approved
First published:
1981
Classification of Alumotantite
4.DB.55
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
B : With medium-sized cations; chains of edge-sharing octahedra
8.1.7.1
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
1 : ABO4
18.1.18
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
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Atan | 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 Alumotantite
Adamantine, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless to white
Streak:
White
Hardness:
7½ on Mohs scale
Hardness:
VHN100=1650 - 1690 kg/mm2 - Vickers
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
7.48 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Alumotantite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 | R2 |
|---|---|---|
| 486 nm | 15.6% | 14.7% |
| 589 nm | 15.4% | 14.6% |
| 656 nm | 15.9% | 15.1% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 15.9%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Chemistry of Alumotantite
Mindat Formula:
AlTaO4
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Sn
Crystallography of Alumotantite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbcn
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.475 Å, b = 11.308 Å, c = 4.771 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.396 : 1 : 0.422
Unit Cell V:
241.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
As euhedral to subhedral, elongated crystals to 1 mm, with rhombic to rectangular cross-section.
As rims and parallel oriented intergrowths on simpsonite, also rims around natrotantite, which in turn rims simpsonite crystals
As rims and parallel oriented intergrowths on simpsonite, also rims around natrotantite, which in turn rims simpsonite crystals
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005280 | Alumotantite | Ercit T S, Hawthorne F C, Cerny P (1992) The crystal structure of alumotantite: Its relation to the structures of simpsonite and the (Al,Ga)(Ta,Nb)O4 compounds The Canadian Mineralogist 30 653-662 |  | 1992 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 1.649 Å | (50) |
| 1.837 Å | (50) |
| 2.439 Å | (50) |
| 2.89 Å | (80) |
| 3.13 Å | (100) |
| 3.64 Å | (70) |
| 5.66 Å | (50) |
Comments:
Material from Kola Peninsula, Russia
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Geological Setting:
In albitized areas of highly fractionated rare element-enriched granite pegmatites
Type Occurrence of Alumotantite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Forms rims around crystals of simpsonite and also rims natrotantite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Geology Museum, Kola Branch, Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russia
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Albitized area of a highly fractionated rare element-enriched granite pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
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: 338-345.
Synonyms of Alumotantite
Other Language Names for Alumotantite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Alumotantite associated with Simpsonite | Al4Ta3O13(OH) |
| 5 photos of Alumotantite associated with Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 2 photos of Alumotantite associated with Microlite Group | A2-mTa2X6-wZ-n |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.DB. | Nioboheftetjernite | ScNbO4 |
| 4.DB. | Shakhdaraite-(Y) | ScYNb2O8 |
| 4.DB. | Nioboixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Nb0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB. | Nioboixiolite-([]) | (Nb0.8◻0.2)4+O2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Argutite | GeO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Cassiterite | SnO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Plattnerite | PbO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Rutile | TiO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tripuhyite | Fe3+Sb5+O4 |
| 4.DB.05 | Tugarinovite | MoO2 |
| 4.DB.05 | Varlamoffite | (Sn,Fe)(O,OH)2 |
| 4.DB.10 | Byströmite | MgSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tapiolite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Ordoñezite | ZnSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.10 | Tredouxite | NiSb2O6 |
| 4.DB.15b | Akhtenskite | ε-Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15c | Nsutite | (Mn4+,Mn2+)(O,OH)2 |
| 4.DB.15a | Paramontroseite | V4+O2 |
| 4.DB.15a | Ramsdellite | Mn4+O2 |
| 4.DB.20 | Scrutinyite | α-PbO2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ishikawaite | U4+Fe2+Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Y) | YFe3+Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Srilankite | ZrTi2O6 |
| 4.DB.25 | Yttrocolumbite-(Y) | Y(U4+,Fe2+)Nb2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Calciosamarskite | (Ca,U4+)Fe3+(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Samarskite-(Yb) | YbFe3+(Nb,Ta)2O8 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Fe2+) | (Ta0.67Fe2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.25 | Ixiolite-(Mn2+) | (Ta0.67Mn2+0.33)O2 |
| 4.DB.30 | Ferberite | FeWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Hübnerite | MnWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Sanmartinite | (Zn,Fe)WO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Krasnoselskite | CoWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Heftetjernite | ScTaO4 |
| 4.DB.30 | Huanzalaite | MgWO4 |
| 4.DB.30 va | Wolframite Group | |
| 4.DB.30 | Rossovskyite | (Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ti)O4 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Fe) | Fe2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Fe) | Fe2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Columbite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6 |
| 4.DB.35 | Qitianlingite | (Fe,Mn)2(Nb,Ta)2WO10 |
| 4.DB.35 | Tantalite-(Mg) | (Mg,Fe2+)(Ta,Nb)2O6 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrowodginite | Fe2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Lithiotantite | LiTa3O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Lithiowodginite | LiTa3O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Titanowodginite | Mn2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Ferrotitanowodginite | Fe2+TiTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Tantalowodginite | (Mn2+0.5◻0.5)TaTa2O8 |
| 4.DB.40 | Wolframowodginite | Mn(Mn,Sn,Fe,Ta)(W,Ta,Nb)2O8 |
| 4.DB.45 | Tivanite | V3+TiO3(OH) |
| 4.DB.50 | Carmichaelite | (Ti,Cr,Fe)[O2-x(OH)x] |
| 4.DB.60 | Biehlite | ((Sb,As)O)2[MoO4] |
Fluorescence of Alumotantite
Bright blue cathodoluminescence. No UV fluorescence.
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 Alumotantite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-159.html
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References for Alumotantite
Localities for Alumotantite
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.
Brazil | |
| rruff.geo.arizona.edu (n.d.) +1 other reference |
DR Congo | |
| Voloshin A.V. (1988) |
Kazakhstan | |
| A.V. Voloshin analytical data |
Russia (TL) | |
| Voloshin et al. (1981) +3 other references |
Zimbabwe | |
| J. W. Anthony et al.: Handbook of Mineralogy (1997) |
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Alto do Giz pegmatite, Equador, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil