5 Photos
Tantalite
Chemical Formula	(Fe,Mn)Ta2O6
Species	Oxides & Hydroxides
Crystal System	Orthorhombic
Mohs Scale	6-6.5
Specific Gravity	8.0
Color	Dark black, iron-black to dark brown, reddish brown
Streak	Brownish-red to black
Luster	Submetallic to almost resinous
Cleavage	Good in one direction
Fracture	Subconchoidal

The mineral group Tantalite [(Fe,Mn)Ta₂O₆] is the primary source of the chemical element Tantalum. 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.

Tantalite is also very close to tapiolite. Those minerals have 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 has been found in Egypt, Namibia, Nigeria, Canada, Madagascar, northern Europe, and Maine, California, Colorado and Virginia in the United States. Brazil has the world's largest reserve of tantalite (52.1%). As at 2006, 75% of world tantalite production comes from Australia.

Tantalite is also mined in Guainía and Vichada, Colombia.

Sustainability

The mining of tantalite causes many ecological and social problems in Democratic Republic of Congo.