The mineral group tantalite (chemical element tantalum, a corrosion (heat and acid) resistant metal. It is chemically similar to columbite, and the two are often grouped together as a semi-singular mineral called coltan or "columbite-tantalite" in many mineral guides. However, tantalite has a much greater specific gravity than columbite (8.0+ compared to columbite's 5.2).[ Iron-rich tantalite is the mineral tantalite-(Fe) or ferrotantalite and manganese-rich is tantalite-(Mn) or manganotantalite.
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Tantalite is also very close to tapiolite. Those minerals have the same chemical composition, but different crystal symmetry: orthorhombic for tantalite and tetragonal for tapiolite.
Tantalite is black to brown in both color and streak. Manganese-rich tantalites can be brown and translucent.
Occurrence
Tantalite occurs in granitic pegmatites that are rich in rare-elements, and in placer deposits derived from such rocks.
Applications
The tantalum metal extracted from tantalite is used in Alloy for strength and higher Melting point, in glass to increase the Refractive index of refraction, and in Surgery, as it is non-reactive and non-irritating to body tissues. Much like glass, it is not suitable for use in hydrofluoric acid and strong hot alkali applications.[ Titan Metal Fabricators. Alloys. Applications of Tantalum. Retrieved on 2022-07-08.]
Sustainability
The mining of tantalite causes many environmental and social problems in the Democratic Republic of Congo.[ Coltan, Gorillas and cellphones . Cellular-news.com (2001-04-03). Retrieved on 2011-10-30.][ The Coltan Scandal . Geology.about.com (2010-07-04). Retrieved on 2011-10-30.]
See also
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