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Formula: MgTa2O6
One of the tantalite minerals. Multiple oxide,
columbite group, forms continuous solid-solution series with
tantalite-(Fe) and with
columbite-(Fe),
tantalum-bearing mineral
Specific gravity: 6.7
Hardness: 5½
Streak: Brown-red
Colour: Black
Solubility: Insoluble in hydrochloric and nitric acid; slightly soluble in sulphuric acid
Environments:
Tantalite-(Mg) occurs intergrown with tantalite-(Fe) and
columbite-(Fe) as
replacement rims on tantalite-(Mn) crystals in a
granite
pegmatite that cuts
serpentinite near its contact with
marble. Associated minerals include
tantalite-(Fe), columbite-(Fe),
microlite, calcite and sodic
plagioclase
(HOM).
Localities
At the type locality, the Lipovka mine, Lipovsk pegmatite field, Rezhevsky District, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, intergrowths
of tantalite-(Mg), tantalite-(Fe),
columbite-(Fe) and uranium-bearing
microlite form rims on
tantalite-(Mn)
crystals in albite variety andesine-calcite
nests in a deeply desilicated granite
pegmatite which crosscuts
serpentinite near its contact with
marble. Other associated minerals include
dravite-uvite,
chrysoberyl, phlogopite,
magnesio-hornblende to edenite,
cordierite, phenakite and
clinochlore
(Minrec 35.4.356-357).
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