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Achalaite

A valid IMA mineral species
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01830430017272330253179.jpg
Achalaite, etc.

La Calandria mine, Cañada del Puerto, Ambul District, San Alberto Department, Córdoba Province, Argentina
01830430017272330253179.jpg
Achalaite, etc.

La Calandria mine, Cañada del Puerto, Ambul District, San Alberto Department, Córdoba Province, Argentina
01830430017272330253179.jpg
Achalaite, etc.

La Calandria mine, Cañada del Puerto, Ambul District, San Alberto Department, Córdoba Province, Argentina
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About AchalaiteHide

Formula:
(Fe2+,Mn)(Ti,Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ta)2O8
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Metallic
Hardness:
5½
Specific Gravity:
6.285 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
After the type locality, the Achala granite batholith, located in Córdoba, Argentina.
Achalaite is the first member of the wodginite group with Nb dominant over Ta; it is genetically considered a post-magmatic phase.

In hand specimens achalaite shows the same properties as columbite-group minerals. (via Miguel Galliski)


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
46039
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46039:6

IMA Classification of AchalaiteHide

Classification of AchalaiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
4.D0.

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
0 :

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
AhlIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of AchalaiteHide

Lustre:
Metallic
Colour:
Black
Streak:
Black
Hardness:
5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Appears to lack cleavage
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
6.285 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Calculated based on empirical formula

Optical Data of AchalaiteHide

Anisotropism:
Weak in air, particularly noticeable along grain boundaries; in oil, it is medium with light to intermediate olive grey tint
Bireflectance:
Weak but noticeable
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1 (%)R2 (%)imR1 (%)imR2 (%)
400nm17.57%18.80%5.82%6.17%
440nm17.25%18.15%5.50%6.03%
470nm16.89%17.72%5.26%5.76%
500nm16.66%17.50%5.12%5.53%
546nm16.49%17.26%4.98%5.32%
560nm16.45%17.16%4.96%5.29%
589nm16.34%17.04%4.97%5.26%
620nm16.37%17.07%4.94%5.25%
650nm16.23%16.94%4.86%5.19%
680nm16.16%16.85%4.85%5.17%
700nm16.13%16.70%4.79%5.09%


Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 18.80%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red, imR1 shown in green, imR2 shown in blue
Colour in reflected light:
Light grey with a slightly violet tint in air, and light grey with an olive tint in oil
Internal Reflections:
None observed
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
None

Chemistry of AchalaiteHide

Mindat Formula:
(Fe2+,Mn)(Ti,Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ta)2O8
Element Weights:
Element% weight
Nb44.504 %
O30.656 %
Fe13.375 %
Ti11.465 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Nb
O
Fe
Ti
Elements listed:
Fe, Mn, Nb, O, Ta, Ti - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of AchalaiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.422(4) Å, b = 11.427(3) Å, c = 5.120(1) Å
β = 90.12(4)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.825 : 1 : 0.448
Unit Cell V:
551.2 ų
Z:
4

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks>3.0
34 : Complex granite pegmatites

Type Occurrence of AchalaiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ La Calandria mine, Cañada del Puerto, Ambul District, San Alberto Department, Córdoba Province, Argentina
General Appearance of Type Material:
As polygranular aggregates up to 1.5 cm across, included in albite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Museo de Mineralogiá y Geologiá ‘‘Dr. Alfred Stelzner’’, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina, catalogue number 3279
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(Fe2+2.211Mn1.524Fe3+0.226U0.030Ca0.009)Σ4.000(Ti1.819Fe3+0.920Ta0.579Sn0.533Zr0.150)Σ4.000(Nb4.781Ta3.000W0.219)Σ8.000O32
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
WO32.41 %
Nb2O530.18 %
Ta2O537.56 %
TiO26.90 %
ZrO20.88 %
SnO23.82 %
Fe2O34.35 %
FeO7.54 %
MnO5.14 %
CaO0.02 %
UO20.38 %
Total:99.18 %
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Granitic pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AlbiteMicrolite GroupQuartzRutile
Reference:
Galliski, Miguel Ángel, Márquez-Zavalía, María Florencia, Černý, Petr, Lira, Raúl, Colombo, Fernando, Roberts, Andrew C., Bernhardt, Heinz-Jürgen (2016) Achalaite, Fe2+TiNb2O8, a new member of the wodginite group from the La Calandria Granitic pegmatite, Córdoba, Argentina. The Canadian Mineralogist, 54 (4) 1043-1052 doi:10.3749/canmin.1500094

Synonyms of AchalaiteHide

Other Language Names for AchalaiteHide

Dutch:Achalaiet
French:Achalaite
German:Achalait
Norwegian:Achalaitt

Relationship of Achalaite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Wodginite Group > Columbite Supergroup
Other Members of Wodginite Group:
FerrotitanowodginiteFe2+TiTa2O8Mon. 2/m : B2/b
FerrowodginiteFe2+Sn4+Ta2O8Mon. 2/m : B2/b
LithiotantiteLiTa3O8Mon. 2/m : P21/c
LithiowodginiteLiTa3O8Mon. 2/m : B2/b
Sakhanaiskite(Fe2+Ti)Nb2O8Mon. 2/m : P2/b
Tantalowodginite(Mn2+0.5◻0.5)TaTa2O8Mon. 2/m : B2/b
TitanowodginiteMn2+TiTa2O8Mon. 2/m : B2/b
WodginiteMn2+Sn4+Ta2O8Mon. 2/m : B2/b

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Achalaite associated with RutileTiO2
1 photo of Achalaite associated with Fluornatromicrolite(Na1.5Bi0.5)Ta2O6F
1 photo of Achalaite associated with AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

4.D0.AkaogiiteTiO2Mon. 2/m : P21/c
4.D0.DmitryvarlamoviteTi2(Fe3+Nb)O8Orth. 222 : P21212

Fluorescence of AchalaiteHide

Other InformationHide

Notes:
Insoluble in HCl
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 AchalaiteHide

References for AchalaiteHide

Localities for AchalaiteHide

Showing 2 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina (TL)
 
  • Córdoba Province
    • San Alberto Department
      • Ambul District
        • Cañada del Puerto
Galliski et al. (2016)
Madagascar
 
  • Betsiboka
    • Tsaratanàna District
      • Bekapaika Commune
Färber (n.d.)
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