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Minerals P-T
Stibiotantalite
Name
Stibiotantalite
Chemistry
SbTaO4 and SbNbO4.
Uses
As an ore of tantalite
Color-
Dark brown to light yellowish or reddish brown,also greenish yellow;transparent. Also black
Hardness
5.5
Specific gravity
5.9-7.4 (increasing with increasing tantalum content).
Crystal system:
Orthorhombic. Habit - Prismatic,striated crystals.
Accompanied by:
Granite
Fracture
Subconchoidal to granular fracture.
Luster
Resinous to adamantine.
Cleavage
Pinacoidal distinct cleavage.
Streak
Pale yellow to yellow brown
Similar to:
Stibiotantalite is found in granite pegmatites of complex mineralogy. I was up in Namibia recently and sourced these interesting stibiotantalite specimens from the pits where they are doing small scale mining for tantalite. I believe that tantalite is a major component in future technology metals such that are used in cell phones. They powder up the rock and it is then sold to metal dealers. The price is determined by percentage of tantalite present. This tantalite mine in Namibia is close to an old tin mine thus the stibio content. (Tin)