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Formula: Ca2Ta2O7
Oxide, microlite group,
tantalum-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 6.333 calculated
Hardness: 5 to 5½
Streak: White
Colour: Brownish yellow to brownish red
Environments
Oxycalciomicrolite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2019.
Localities
At the type locality, the Fumal pegmatite, Nazareno, Minas Gerais, Brazil, oxycalciomicrolite was found in the
saprolite of the weathered
pegmatite. It occurs as an accessory mineral associated with
quartz, albite,
microcline, muscovite,
columbite, cassiterite,
hematite, ilmenite,
monazite-(Ce), xenotime-(Y),
zircon, beryl,
spinel, epidote and
garnet. Oxycalciomicrolite is found as octahedral crystals, occasionally
modified to rhombododecahedra, ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 mm in size. The crystals are brownish yellow to brownish red and
translucent
(MM 84.6.854-858).
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