Tantalite-(Mn)
Mineral MnTa2O6
Also called Manganotantalite
About it
Very heavy black to reddish-brown tabular crystals in lithium pegmatites, much denser than columbite. A tantalum ore; clear red-brown crystals come from Brazil and Afghanistan.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Oxide, columbite group
- Formula
- MnTa2O6
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 6–6.5
- Specific gravity
- 7.3–8.1
- Streak
- brown
- Lustre
- submetallic, resinous
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Colours
- black, brown, reddish brown
- Transparency
- opaque, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- imperfect; subconchoidal to uneven fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.