Columbite

Locality: Giles Columbite-Beryl Pegmatite (Giles Prospect), Spargoville, Coolgardie Shire, Western Australia, Australia Specimen Length : 12cm (4 inches) Copyright © Darren Allingham

Chemical Formula: (Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6
Locality: Globe and Harding pegmatites, Taos County, New Mexico, USA.
Name Origin: Named for the MANGANese content and the relationship to columbite (ferrocolumbite).

Columbite, also called niobite, niobite-tantalite and columbate [(Fe, Mn)Nb2O6], is a black mineral group that is an ore of niobium. It has a submetallic luster and a high density and is a niobate of iron and manganese. This mineral group was first found in Haddam, Connecticut, in the United States. It forms a series with the tantalum-dominant analogue ferrotantalite and one with the manganese-dominant analogue manganocolumbite. The iron-rich member of the columbite group is ferrocolumbite. Some tin and tungsten may be present in the mineral. Yttrocolumbite is the yttrium-rich columbite with the formula (Y,U,Fe)(Nb,Ta)O4. It is a radioactive mineral found in Mozambique.

Columbite has the same composition and crystal symmetry (orthorhombic) as tantalite. In fact, the two are often grouped together as a semi-singular mineral series called columbite-tantalite or coltan in many mineral guides. However, tantalite has a much greater specific gravity than columbite, more than 8.0 compared to columbite’s 5.2.

Physical Properties of Columbite-(Mn)

Cleavage: {010} Distinct, {100} Indistinct
Color: Brownish black, Black.
Density: 5.28
Diaphaneity: Opaque
Fracture: Brittle – Subconchoidal – Brittle frature with subconchoidal fragments
Hardness: 6 – Orthoclase
Luster: Sub Metallic
Streak: reddish black

Photos

Locality: Keith Quarry (Towne Quarry), West Mount Apatite District, Auburn, Androscoggin Co., Maine, USA 18mm long Copyright © Harold Moritz
Locality: Strickland Quarry (Eureka Quarry), Strickland pegmatite (Strickland-Cramer Quarry; Strickland-Cramer Mine; Strickland-Cramer Feldspar-Mica Quarries), Collins Hill, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA FOV: 1.5 mm Copyright © Peter Cristofono
Locality: Piano del Lavonchio (Piano dei Lavonchi), Craveggia, Vigezzo Valley, Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy Copyright © Matteo Chinellato
Locality: Araçuaí (Arassuaí), Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil Copyright © Kelly Nash