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Tantalowodginite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Tantalowodginite
Formula:
(Mn2+0.5◻0.5)TaTa2O8
Colour:
Orange-red to deep red
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous
Hardness:
5 - 5½
Specific Gravity:
7.61
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named for the composition and its relation to wodginite.
The name tantalowodginite was earlier, in 1984, proposed for a new mineral in the wodginite group (Ercit et al. 1984). However this was formally retracted by the same authors recognizing that the type specimen was a Ta-rich wodginite and lithiowodginite (Ercit et al. 1992).
In 2018 IMA approved a new species with the name tantalowodginite.
The name tantalowodginite was earlier, in 1984, proposed for a new mineral in the wodginite group (Ercit et al. 1984). However this was formally retracted by the same authors recognizing that the type specimen was a Ta-rich wodginite and lithiowodginite (Ercit et al. 1992).
In 2018 IMA approved a new species with the name tantalowodginite.
At the type locality, Emmons pegmatite, tantalowodginite is rimmed with either black wodginite or columbite-(Mn).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
7328
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:7328:4
IMA Classification of Tantalowodginite
Approved
IMA status notes:
Redefined by the IMA
IMA Formula:
(Mn2+,◻)Ta5+Ta5+2O8
Approval year:
2018
Approval history:
IMA No. 2017-095
Type description reference:
Hanson, Sarah L., Falster, Alexander U., Simmons, William B “Skip”, Sprague, Raymond, Vignola, Pietro, Rotiroti, Nicola, Andó, Sergio, Hatert, Frédéric (2018) Tantalowodginite, (Mn0.5□0.5)TaTa2O8, a New Mineral Species from the Emmons Pegmatite, Uncle Tom Mountain, Maine, U.S.A. The Canadian Mineralogist, 56 (4) 543-553 doi:10.3749/canmin.1800009
Classification of Tantalowodginite
4.DB.40
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
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Ttwdg | 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 Tantalowodginite
Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous
Colour:
Orange-red to deep red
Streak:
Yellowish-tan
Hardness:
5 - 5½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
on {100}
on {100}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
7.61 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.87 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Tantalowodginite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
Dispersion:
Strong
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Weak to moderate pleochroism: orangish-yellow parallel to cleavage and greenish-yellow perpendicular to cleavage on (010)
Chemistry of Tantalowodginite
Mindat Formula:
(Mn2+0.5◻0.5)TaTa2O8
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Tantalowodginite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.542(1) Å, b = 11.488(2) Å, c = 5.128(1) Å
β = 91.13(1)°
β = 91.13(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.831 : 1 : 0.446
Unit Cell V:
562.01 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Anhedral masses, rarely as crystals
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.332 Å | (20) |
| 4.741 Å | (20) |
| 3.838 Å | (30) |
| 3.667 Å | (100) |
| 3.000 Å | (100) |
| 2.957 Å | (100) |
| 2.883 Å | (30) |
| 1.778 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Type Occurrence of Tantalowodginite
General Appearance of Type Material:
As anhedral masses (0.5–12 cm) in the pegmatite core and crystals (rare) in miarolitic cavities
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical collections of the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, 99 Main Street, Bethel, Maine, USA, catalogue number MMGM-MP2-12-10-2016
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| Li2O | 0.54 % |
|---|---|
| FeO | 0.23 % |
| MnO | 6.23 % |
| TiO2 | 0.01 % |
| SnO2 | 8.14 % |
| Nb2O5 | 3.97 % |
| Ta2O5 | 80.75 % |
| Total: | 99.87 % |
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Granite pegmatite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Hanson, Sarah L., Falster, Alexander U., Simmons, William B “Skip”, Sprague, Raymond, Vignola, Pietro, Rotiroti, Nicola, Andó, Sergio, Hatert, Frédéric (2018) Tantalowodginite, (Mn0.5□0.5)TaTa2O8, a New Mineral Species from the Emmons Pegmatite, Uncle Tom Mountain, Maine, U.S.A. The Canadian Mineralogist, 56 (4) 543-553 doi:10.3749/canmin.1800009
Synonyms of Tantalowodginite
Other Language Names for Tantalowodginite
Relationship of Tantalowodginite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Wodginite Group:
| Achalaite | (Fe2+,Mn)(Ti,Fe3+,Ta)(Nb,Ta)2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Ferrotitanowodginite | Fe2+TiTa2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Ferrowodginite | Fe2+Sn4+Ta2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Lithiotantite | LiTa3O8 | Mon. 2/m : P21/c |
| Lithiowodginite | LiTa3O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Sakhanaiskite | (Fe2+Ti)Nb2O8 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Titanowodginite | Mn2+TiTa2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 10 photos of Tantalowodginite associated with Wodginite | Mn2+Sn4+Ta2O8 |
| 7 photos of Tantalowodginite associated with Tantalite-(Mn) | Mn2+Ta2O6 |
| 3 photos of Tantalowodginite associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Tantalowodginite associated with Hydroxykenomicrolite | (◻,Na,Sb3+)2Ta2O6(OH,Cs) |
| 2 photos of Tantalowodginite associated with Simpsonite | Al4Ta3O13(OH) |
| 2 photos of Tantalowodginite associated with Titanowodginite | Mn2+TiTa2O8 |
| 2 photos of Tantalowodginite associated with Columbite-(Mn) | Mn2+Nb2O6 |
| 1 photo of Tantalowodginite associated with 'Columbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) Series' | |
| 1 photo of Tantalowodginite associated with Metanatroautunite | Na(UO2)(PO4)(H2O)3 |
| 1 photo of Tantalowodginite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
Emmons Quarry, Uncle Tom Mountain, Greenwood, Oxford County, Maine, USA