Tapiolite [(Fe, Mn)(Nb, Ta)2O6] is a black mineral series that is an ore of niobium and tantalum. The tapiolite group includes tapiolite-(Fe) or ferrotapiolite and tapiolite-(Mn) or manganotapiolite.[2][3][4] Tapiolite-(Fe) is by far the more common of the two.[5][6]
The minerals have a submetallic luster and a high specific gravity with tapiolite-Fe having a higher specific gravity (7.90)[5] versus 7.72 for tapiolite-Mn.[6]
The mineral was named in 1863 after the forest god Tapio of Finnish mythology, and the original tapiolite material came from Sukula, Tammela, Tavastia Proper, Finland.[2][7]
Tapiolite is very close to columbite and tantalite. Those minerals have the same chemical composition, but different crystal symmetry orthorhombic for tantalite or columbite and tetragonal for tapiolite.[8]
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