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 % Na2 O
Calcium 3.79 % Ca 5.30 % CaO
Tantalum 68.41 % Ta 83.53 % Ta2 O5
Hydrogen 0.06 % H 0.51 % H2 O
Oxygen 20.87 % O
Fluorine 0.36 % F 0.36 % F
- %
F -0.15 % -O=F2
______ ______
100.00 % 98.34 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Empirical Formula:
Na1.5 Ca0.5 Ta2 O6.6 (OH)0.3 F0.1
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."
Name Pronunciation:
Microlite + Pronunciation
Synonym:
Scandium microlite - Sc-bearing microlite
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 - Hexoctahedral H-M Symbol (4/m 3 2/m) Space Group: F d3m
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 2.98(1), 1.563(0.8), 1.836(0.8),
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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
Diaphaneity:
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:
Non-fluorescent.
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 Ncalc = 1.65 - 2
Optical Data:
Isotropic, n=2-2.2.
Calculated Properties of Microlite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=5.39 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Microlite =6.23 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.0002334809 Boson Index = 0.9997665191
Photoelectric:
PEMicrolite = 814.71 barns/electronU=PEMicrolite x r Electron Density=4,392.35 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Microlite is Not Radioactive
Microlite Classification
Dana Class:
08.02.02.01 (08) Multiple Oxides with Nb, Ta, and Ti
(08.02) where (A)2 (B2O6) (O,OH,F)
(08.02.02) Pyrochlore Group (Microlite Subgroup; Ta>Nb;(Ta+Nb)>2(Ti)
08.02.02.01 Microlite (Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
08.02.02.02 Bariomicrolite Ba(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
08.02.02.03 Plumbomicrolite (Pb,Ca,U)2Ta2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
08.02.02.04 Uranmicrolite (U,Ca)2(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
08.02.02.05 Bismutomicrolite (Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
08.02.02.06 Stannomicrolite (Sn,Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb,Sn)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
08.02.02.07 Stibiomicrolite (Sb,Ca,Na)2(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
08.02.02.08 Fluornatromicrolite ! (Na,Ca,Bi)2Ta2O6F F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
Strunz Class:
04.DH.15 04 - OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodate
04.D - Metal:Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
04.DH -With large (� medium-sized) cations; sheets of edge-sharing octahedra
04.DH.15 Alumotungstite (W,Al)(O,OH)3(?) Unk Cubic
04.DH.15 Betafite (Ca,U)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Ferritungstite (K,Ca,Na)(W,Fe)2(O,OH)6•(H2O) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Cesstibtantite (Cs,Na)SbTa4O12 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Bismutomicrolite (Bi,Ca)(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Ceriopyrochlore-(Ce) (Ce,Ca,Y)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Bariopyrochlore (Ba,Sr)(Nb,Ti)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Bariomicrolite Ba(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Calciobetafite Ca2(Ti,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Jixianite Pb(W,Fe)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Plumbomicrolite (Pb,Ca,U)2Ta2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Kalipyrochlore (H2O,Sr)(Nb,Ti)(O,OH)6•(H2O,K) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Plumbopyrochlore (Pb,Y,U,Ca)2-xNb2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Strontiopyrochlore * Sr2Nb2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Uranmicrolite (U,Ca)2(Ta,Nb)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Pyrochlore (Na,Ca)2Nb2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Microlite (Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Natrobistantite (Na,Cs)Bi(Ta,Nb,Sb)4O12 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Plumbobetafite (Pb,U,Ca)(Ti,Nb)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Stibiomicrolite (Sb,Ca,Na)2(Ta,Nb)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Stannomicrolite (Sn,Fe,Mn)(Ta,Nb,Sn)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Stibiobetafite (Sb,Ca)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Uranpyrochlore (U,Ca,Ce)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Bismutopyrochlore ! (Bi,U,Ca,Pb)1x(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH)•n(H2O) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Fluornatromicrolite ! (Na,Ca,Bi)2Ta2O6F F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Yttrobetafite-(Y) (Y,U,Ce)2(Ti,Nb,Ta)2O6(OH) F d3m 4/m 3 2/m
04.DH.15 Yttropyrochlore-(Y) (Y,Na,Ca,U)1-2(Nb,Ta,Ti)2(O,OH)7 F d3m 2/m 3
04.DH.15 Elsmoreite ! WO3•0.5(H2O) 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)
See Also:
Links to other databases for Microlite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - EUROmin Project
5 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
6 - GeoScienceWorld
7 - Google Images
8 - Google Scholar
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
10 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
11 - MinDAT
12 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
13 - Online Mineral Museum
14 - QUT Mineral Atlas
15 - Ruff.Info
16 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
17 - WWW-MINCRYST
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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Microlite Specimen Label here :
Microlite
(Na,Ca)2Ta2O6(O,OH,F)
Dana No: 08.02.02.01 Strunz No: 04.DH.15
Locality:
Notes:
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