Microlite Mineral Data

Microlite Mineral Data +

General Microlite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 529.02 gm

Sodium 6.52 % Na 8.79 % Na₂O

Calcium 3.79 % Ca 5.30 % CaO

Tantalum 68.41 % Ta 83.53 % Ta₂O₅

Hydrogen 0.06 % H 0.51 % H₂O

Oxygen 20.87 % O

Fluorine 0.36 % F 0.36 % F

- % F -0.15 % -O=F₂

______ ______

100.00 % 98.34 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Na_1.5Ca_0.5Ta₂O_6.6(OH)_0.3F_0.1

Environment:

Granitic rocks.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1835

Locality:

Isalnd of Uto, State of Stockholm, Sweden. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Greek mikros - "small" and lithos - "stone."

Microlite Image

Images:

Microlite

Comments: Brown crystal of microlite 10 mm in an albite matrix.
Location: Morefield Mine, Winterham, Amelia Co., Virginia, USA. Scale: 5x4x3 cm.
© John Betts - Fine Minerals

Images:

Microlite

Comments: Golden-colored microlite octahedrons on white albite.
Location: Maxixe Mine, Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Scale: Crystal size .5 cm.
© John Veevaert

Microlite Crystallography

Cell Dimensions:

a = 10.41, Z = 8; V = 1,128.11 Den(Calc)= 6.23

Crystal System:

Isometric - HexoctahedralH-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F d3m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.98(1), 1.563(0.8), 1.836(0.8),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 1 1 1] [ 0 1 1]

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Crystal Structure:

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Gasperin M , Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Seances de l Academie des Sciences , 240 (1955) p.2340-2342, Synthese et identification de deux oxydes doubles de tantale et d etain, Sample: synthetic

Physical Properties of Microlite

Cleavage:

[111] Indistinct, [111] Indistinct, [111] Indistinct

Color:

Yellowish brown, Reddish brown, Greenish brown, Green, Gray.

Density:

4.2 - 6.4, Average = 5.3

Diaphaniety:

Subtranslucent to opaque

Fracture:

Sub Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by semi-curving surfaces.

Habit:

Disseminated - Occurs in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix.

Habit:

Pseudo Octohedral - Crystals show an octohedral outline.

Hardness:

5-5.5 - Apatite-Knife Blade

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Vitreous - Resinous

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

light yellow

Optical Properties of Microlite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.332 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.133 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1766,KPDmeas= 0.2075,KC= 0.1559

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=2-2.2.

Calculated Properties of Microlite

Electron Density:

r_electron=5.39 gm/cc
note: r_Microlite=6.23 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00023
Boson Index = 0.99977

Photoelectric:

PE_Microlite= 814.71 barns/electron
U=PE_Microlite x r_electron=4,392.35 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Microlite is Not Radioactive

Microlite Classification

Dana Class:

8.2.2.1 (8)Multiple Oxides with Nb, Ta, and Ti

(8.2)where (A)2 (B2O6) (O,OH,F)

(8.2.2)Pyrochlore Group (Microlite Subgroup; Ta>Nb;(Ta+Nb)>2(Ti)

8.2.2.1 Microlite (Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.2.2 Bariomicrolite Ba(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.2.3 Plumbomicrolite (Pb,Ca,U)2Ta2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.2.4 Uranmicrolite (U,Ca)2(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.2.5 Bismutomicrolite (Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.2.6 Stannomicrolite (Sn,Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb,Sn)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.2.7 Stibiomicrolite (Sb,Ca,Na)2(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

8.2.2.8 IMA1998-018! (Na,Ca,Bi)2Ta2O6F F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

Strunz Class:

IV/C.18-10 IV - Oxides

IV/C - Oxides with metal : oxygen = 2:3 (M2O3 and related compounds)

IV/C.18 - Pyrochlore group, Microlite series with Ta > Nb

IV/C.18-10 Microlite (Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.18-20 Stannomicrolite (Sn,Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb,Sn)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.18-30 Stibiomicrolite (Sb,Ca,Na)2(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.18-40 Bariomicrolite Ba(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.18-50 Plumbomicrolite (Pb,Ca,U)2Ta2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.18-60 Natrobistantite (Na,Cs)Bi(Ta,Nb,Sb)4O12 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.18-70 Bismutomicrolite (Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

IV/C.18-80 Uranmicrolite (U,Ca)2(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m

Other Microlite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Mason68)

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Microlite

(Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F)
Dana No: 8.2.2.1 Strunz No: IV/C.18-10
Locality:

Notes: