Jump to content

Columbite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Columbite
General
CategoryOxide minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)		(FeII,MnII)Nb2O6,or in oxide formula(FeII,MnII)O·Nb2O5
IMA symbolClb[1]
Strunz classification4.DB.35
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol:(2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupPbcn
Identification
ColorBlack, brownish black.
Crystal habitMassive – Granular – Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock; Striated - Parallel lines on crystal surface or cleavage face.
Cleavage[010] Distinct
FractureSub Conchoidal: Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by semi-curving surfaces.
Mohs scalehardness6
LusterSub-metallic
StreakBlackish brown
Specific gravity5.3–7.3, Average = 6.3
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+), b = 2.29–2.4
Other characteristicsRadioactive,non-fluorescent.
References[2][3][4] [5]

Columbite,also calledniobite,niobite-tantaliteandcolumbate,with a general chemical formula of(FeII,MnII)Nb2O6,is a blackmineralgroup that is an ore of niobium. It has a submetallicluster,a high density, and is a niobate of iron and manganese. Niobite has many applications in areospace, construction and the medical industry. Dating columbite minerals is primarily completed by uranium lead (U-Pb) dating, a slow process.

Columbite has the same composition andcrystal symmetry(orthorhombic) astantalite.[6]In fact, the two are often grouped together as a semi-singular mineral series calledcolumbite-tantaliteor coltan in many mineral guides. However, tantalite has a much greaterspecific gravitythan columbite, more than 8.0 compared to columbite's 5.2.[7]The formation of columbite depends on the concentrations of metals present that affect the crystalline structure of the mineral and the environmental impact.

Columbite is a polymorph oftapiolite;they have the same chemical composition but different crystal symmetry: orthorhombic for columbite andtetragonalfor tapiolite.[8]The largest documented single crystal of columbite consisted of plates 6 mm (0.24 in) thick measuring 76 cm × 61 cm (30 in × 24 in).[9]

Columbite contains varying amounts ofthoriumanduranium,making it radioactive.[10]Coltan, a tantalum dominate species of columbite, is often mined byartisanand small scale miners with risks to the environment and human health due to unregulated working conditions.

History and etymology[edit]

This mineral group was first found inHaddam, Connecticut,in the United States.[11]The occurrence of columbite in the United States was made known from a specimen presumably stemming fromJohn Winthrop(1606–1676), first Governor of theConnecticut Colonyand avid mineral collector. Amidst 600 other samples, it was donated by his namesake and grandson,John Winthrop(1681–1747) toHans Sloane,President of theRoyal Societyof London, upon becoming aFellow of the Royal Societyin 1737.[12]

In 1801,Charles Hatchettdiscovered the elementniobiumin this specimen,[13]which he named columbium in honour of explorerChristopher Columbus.[14]

Columbite species[edit]

Yttrocolumbite; a species of columbite

Columbite forms opaque crystals that are black to dark brown in colour.[15]The formation of the crystals vary based on the species present.

Columbite forms a series with thetantalum-dominant analogueferrotantaliteand the manganese-dominant analoguemanganocolumbite.Manganocolumbite has a chemical formula of (Mn, Fe)(Nb, Ta)2O6,often with small concentrations of tantalum and iron. Manganocolumbite is often found in pegmatites, course-grained igneous rocks.[15]

Ferrocolumbite; a species of columbite

The iron-rich member of the columbite group isferrocolumbite,FeNb2O6,and small concentrations oftinandtungstenmay be present. This species of columbite is often found in pegmatites as course-grained igneous rocks.[15]

Yttrocolumbiteis theyttrium-rich columbite with the formula(Y,U,Fe)(Nb,Ta)O
4,is aradioactivemineral found inMozambique.[16]This mineral forms due to pegmatites and rare-metal granites.[15]

Structure[edit]

Columbite atoms form an octahedral structure whereniobiumortantalumatoms surround an oxygen atom. Overall, Columbite formsorthorhombiccrystals which give approximate lengths of the crystal axes as a ≈ 14.27, b ≈ 5.73, and c ≈ 5.06 Å.[17]Different columbite species such as manganocolumbite or ferrocolumbite can change the lengths of the crystal axes.[17]

Face centered crystal structure of columbite (orthorhombic)

Since columbite can form species with other minerals, the physical properties of the mineral can change. When ferrocolumbite is introduced to heat, an equal expansion of the ‘a’ and ‘b’ axis occurs.[17]In addition, due to the size of the ions and the overall structure, ferrocolumbite is more compressible than manganocolumbite.[17]When manganocolumbite is introduced to heat, an expansion of the ‘a’ axis occurs resulting in an uneven change to the structure.[17]

Applications[edit]

When niobite is extracted from columbite, in the ore refining process, applications can be observed in the aerospace, construction, and medical industry.[18]In the aerospace industry,super alloyscan be created. Super alloys from niobite create a low mass, and high resistance material often used in spacecrafts.[18]In construction, somehigh-strength low-alloy(HSLA) steel is created from niobite.[18]In addition, niobite extracted from columbite can be used to create electronic components used in medical equipment such asmagnetic resonance imaging(MRI) andnuclear magnetic resonance(NMR).[18]

Formation[edit]

Columbite is often found inpegmatiteand alluvial deposits, as well asgraniticrocks.[19]Columbite minerals are mainly composed ofmagnesium,iron,niobium,andtantalumwhere trace amounts oftin,titanium,andscandiumhave been observed.[19]The overall composition of columbite influences the crystalline structure resulting in different formation processes. Currently, there are two prominent theories for the formation of columbite. One theory was developed due to a strong attraction ofniobiumandtantalum,within columbite, to silicate melts found in the earth's crust or mantle.[20]In addition, the presence of magma forms columbite by undergoing twocrystallizationprocesses.[15]The firstcrystallizationprocess creates aniobiumcore and the secondcrystallizationprocess creates atantalumrim.[15]This theory is prominent due to the texture of the mineral during the fluid stage, and the magmatic fractionalcrystallizationthat occurs during formation.[20]Another prominent theory of the formation ofniobiumandtantalum,in Columbite minerals, occurs due to hydrothermal fluids.[20]This theory suggests that hydrothermal fluids interact with columbite during formation and as a result irregular crystals are formed.[15]

It is possible that both theories work in conjunction with one another to form columbite minerals as well as different species of columbite such as mangancolumbite, ferrocolumbite, and yttrocolumbite.

Environmental impact[edit]

Columbite minerals have the potential to be radioactive due to trace amounts ofuraniumandthorium.Radioactive minerals are unstable due to the emission ofradiationwhich causes negative impacts to the environment and human health. Each country has different laws regarding the transportation of radioactive material.[21]

When mining columbite, contamination of ground and surface water are a concern due to the presence ofheavy metalsin waste rock. In addition, waste rock can lead toacid mine drainagewhich can affect ground and surface water.[21]To obtain pure columbite, a large quantity of waste rock is produced, leading to negative impacts to the surrounding environment.[21]

During the extraction of niobite or tantalum from columbite, strong acids at high temperatures are used that have negative impacts to the environment.Hydrofluoric acidandsulfuric acidare used in the ore refining processes between temperatures of 250-300oC.[22]These acids can causesoil acidification,air pollution,andwater pollutionthat, in turn, affects ecosystems. Current technology, in the ore refining of columbite, is not selective which leads to impurities present in refined Columbite samples.[22]To remove impurities, a greater concentration of acid is required, leading to a greater potential of environmental hazards.[23]

Dating[edit]

There are three applications to dating columbite group minerals each with advantages and disadvantages. These methods areuranium lead (U-Pb) dating,laser ablationinductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS), andsecondary ion mass spectrometry(SIMS). The U-Pb method, can determine the location, and age of a columbite mineral group by the U/Pb ratio.[24][25]This method is often paired with isotope dilution-thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) to increase precision.[24][25]The LA-ICP-MS method is used in situ to date columbite-tantalite minerals with less than five percent error on the isotopic ratio of uranium and lead.[25]The SIMS method has a high spatial resolution and has a high accuracy in measuring lead isotopes in columbite minerals.[25]The LA-ICP-MS and SIMS method are not commonly used due to the lack of certified reference material.[25]

Artisanal and small scale mining[edit]

Artisanaland small-scale mining provides jobs for millions of people but typically has negative impacts to human health and the environment.[26]This type of mining is executed by small groups of people, typically under a larger mining cooperation, with simple extraction equipment.[27]This simple extraction equipment can includepickaxes,shovels,basins, and minimalheavy machinery.[27]Coltan,the tantalum dominant species of columbite, is often mined artisanal due to its vast applications in electronics.[28]Artisanaland small-scale mining of materials are common in regions such as Africa, Asia, Oceania, Central American, and South America.[27]While this type of mining is important for local economies and livelihood, it is often unregulated which leads toillegal miningand unsafe working conditions. Due to unregulated conditions, the mistreatment of artisanal miners, violence, illegal trading, and sometimeschild labourcan occur.[27]In addition, long term health effects are common when mining coltan due to the presence of radioactive material within the mineral.[26]In countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Democratic Republic of Congo lucrative trading of minerals, such as coltan, has occurred due to lack of state control ofartisanaland small-scale mining in the area.[27]

Further reading[edit]

  • Isah, Mohammed Engha; Abdulmumin, Nuhu Abdulkadir; Elaoyi, Paul D.; Audu, Ephraim (2019-12-09)."Effects of columbite/tantalite (COLTAN) mining activities on water quality in Edege-Mbeki mining district of Nasarawa state, North Central Nigeria".Bulletin of the National Research Centre.43(1): 179.doi:10.1186/s42269-019-0237-0.ISSN2522-8307.
  • Zuo, Yushan; Gao, Zhengxi; Zuo, Lei; Zhang, Peng; Liu, Rui; Zhang, Qing; Zhang, Tingting (2022-12-03)."Ultrastructure of a Columbite-Tantalite Mineral from the Zhaojinggou Ta-Nb Deposit in the North China Craton: Direct Evidence of the Formation Mechanism of the Columbite-Group Minerals".Geofluids.2022:e8125419.doi:10.1155/2022/8125419.ISSN1468-8115.

See also[edit]


References[edit]

  1. ^Warr, L.N. (2021)."IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols".Mineralogical Magazine.85(3): 291–320.Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W.doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43.S2CID235729616.
  2. ^Mineralienatlas
  3. ^Columbite-(Fe) Mineral Data
  4. ^Columbite-(Fe) on Mindat.org
  5. ^Dampare, S. B.; Nyarko, B. J. B.; Osae, S.; Akaho, E. H. K.; Asiedu, D. K.; Serfor-Armah, Y.; Nude, P. (2005)."Simultaneous determination of tantalum, niobium, thorium and uranium in placer columbite-tantalite deposits from the Akim Oda District of Ghana by epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis".Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry.265:53–59.doi:10.1007/s10967-005-0860-0.S2CID97891922.
  6. ^Chukanov, Nikita V.; Pasero, Marco; Aksenov, Sergey M.; Britvin, Sergey N.; Zubkova, Natalia V.; Yike, Li; Witzke, Thomas (2022-09-08)."Columbite supergroup of minerals: nomenclature and classification".Mineralogical Magazine.87(1): 18–33.doi:10.1180/mgm.2022.105.ISSN0026-461X.S2CID252172669.
  7. ^mindat.org Tantalite
  8. ^P. Cerny et al. "The tantalite-tapiolite gap: natural assemblages versus experimental data" Canadian Mineralogist 30 (1992) 587free download
  9. ^P. C. Rickwood (1981)."The largest crystals"(PDF).American Mineralogist.66:885–907.
  10. ^"Simultaneous determination of tantalum, niobium, thorium and uranium in placer columbite-tantalite deposits from the Akim Oda District of Ghana by epithermal instrumental neutron activation analysis".Retrieved2021-02-02.
  11. ^Smith, Edgar F. (1905)."Observations on Columbium and Tantalum".Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society.44(180): 151–158.ISSN0003-049X.JSTOR983511.
  12. ^ Winthrop, John (1844). Silliman, Benjamin (ed.)."Art. V. Selections from an Ancient Catalogue of objects of Natural History, formed in New England more than one hundred years ago".The Amer. J. Science and Arts 47.New Haven: Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy. p. 282.Retrieved12 February2015.... (p.282:)Mr. Winthrop was grandson of the first governor of Connecticut, great grandson of the first governor of Massachusetts... (p.290:) A black mineral...Is this the Columbite?... it appeared that it had been sent... to Sir Hans Sloane, by Mr. Winthrop of Massachusetts....'
  13. ^ Griffith, William P.; Morris, Peter J.T. (22 September 2003)."Charles Hatchett FRS (1765–1847), Chemist and Discoverer of Niobium"(PDF).Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London.57(3). London: The Royal Society Publishing: 359.doi:10.1098/rsnr.2003.0216.S2CID144857368.Retrieved12 February2015.... In 1800–01, while he was arranging some minerals at the British Museum in Bloomsbury, he became particularly interested in a specimen which was described in Sir Hans Sloane's catalogue of the 'Metalls', no. 2029 from his collection, as 'a very heavy black stone with golden streaks... from Nautneague. From Mr. Winthrop'...The donor was probably John Winthrop (1681–1747), a great-grandson of the founder of Massachusetts Bay colony.When Winthrop was elected FRS in 1734 he gave Sir Hans Sloane, then President of the Society, a collection of about 600 minerals....'
  14. ^ Jameson, Robert (1805).System of Mineralogy, Vol. II.Edinburgh: Bell and Bradfute (et al.). p. 582.Retrieved15 February2015.... Mr Hatchett found it to contain a metal, which, from its properties, could not be referred to any hitherto known; hence he was of opinion that it should be considered asa new genus, to which he gave the name Columbium, in honour of the discoverer of America....'
  15. ^abcdefgSiachoque, Astrid; Garcia, Rodolfo; Vlach, Silvio R.F. (2020-05-04)."Occurrence and Composition of Columbite-(Fe) In the Reduced A-Type Desemborque Pluton, Graciosa Province (S-SE Brazil)".Minerals.10(5): 411.Bibcode:2020Mine...10..411S.doi:10.3390/min10050411.ISSN2075-163X.
  16. ^Abdel Gawad, Ahmed E.; Ali, Khaled; Eliwa, Hassan; Sayyed, M. I.; Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin; Bradley, David A.; Osman, Hamid; Elesawy, Basem H.; Hanfi, Mohamed Y. (2021-12-07)."Radiological Investigation on Sediments: A Case Study of Wadi Rod Elsayalla the Southeastern Desert of Egypt".Applied Sciences.11(24): 11884.doi:10.3390/app112411884.ISSN2076-3417.
  17. ^abcdeBalassone, Giuseppina; Danisi, Rosa Micaela; Armbruster, Thomas; Altomare, Angela; Moliterni, Anna Grazia; Petti, Carmela; Mondillo, Nicola; Ghiara, Maria Rosaria; Saviano, Michele (2015-07-01)."An insight into crystal chemistry and cation order of columbite-(Fe) and columbite-(Mn) from worldwide occurrences".Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen.192(3): 275–287.doi:10.1127/njma/2015/0285.ISSN0077-7757.
  18. ^abcdSanchez-Segado, Sergio; Monti, Tamara; Katrib, Juliano; Kingman, Samuel; Dodds, Chris; Jha, Animesh (2017-12-21)."Towards sustainable processing of columbite group minerals: elucidating the relation between dielectric properties and physico-chemical transformations in the mineral phase".Scientific Reports.7(1): 18016.Bibcode:2017NatSR...718016S.doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18272-3.ISSN2045-2322.
  19. ^abWise, Michael A.; Brown, Cathleen D. (2011-12-01)."Chemical composition of coexisting columbite-group minerals and cassiterite from the Black Mountain pegmatite, Maine".European Journal of Mineralogy.23(5): 817–828.Bibcode:2011EJMin..23..817W.doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2011/0023-2102.ISSN0935-1221.
  20. ^abcZuo, Yushan; Gao, Zhengxi; Zuo, Lei; Zhang, Peng; Liu, Rui; Zhang, Qing; Zhang, Tingting (2022-12-03). Yang, Fan (ed.)."Ultrastructure of a Columbite-Tantalite Mineral from the Zhaojinggou Ta-Nb Deposit in the North China Craton: Direct Evidence of the Formation Mechanism of the Columbite-Group Minerals".Geofluids.2022:1–9.doi:10.1155/2022/8125419.ISSN1468-8123.
  21. ^abcIsah, Mohammed Engha; Abdulmumin, Nuhu Abdulkadir; Elaoyi, Paul D.; Audu, Ephraim (December 2019)."Effects of columbite/tantalite (COLTAN) mining activities on water quality in Edege-Mbeki mining district of Nasarawa state, North Central Nigeria".Bulletin of the National Research Centre.43(1).doi:10.1186/s42269-019-0237-0.ISSN2522-8307.
  22. ^abSanchez-Segado, Sergio; Monti, Tamara; Katrib, Juliano; Kingman, Samuel; Dodds, Chris; Jha, Animesh (2017-12-21)."Towards sustainable processing of columbite group minerals: elucidating the relation between dielectric properties and physico-chemical transformations in the mineral phase".Scientific Reports.7(1): 18016.Bibcode:2017NatSR...718016S.doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18272-3.ISSN2045-2322.
  23. ^Baba, Alafara Abdullahi; Jacob, Sunday O.; Olaoluwa, Daud T.; Abubakar, Abdulrahman; Womiloju, Adeola O.; Olasinde, Fausat T.; Abdulkareem, Aishat Y. (2018-04-23)."Processing of a Nigerian columbite-rich ilmenite ore for improved industrial application by sulphuric acid solution".Indonesian Mining Journal.21(1): 9–19.doi:10.30556/imj.Vol21.No1.2018.674.ISSN2527-8797.
  24. ^abTapster, Simon; Bright, Joshua W. G. (2020-12-18)."High-precision ID-TIMS cassiterite U–Pb systematics using a low-contamination hydrothermal decomposition: implications for LA-ICP-MS and ore deposit geochronology".Geochronology.2(2): 425–441.Bibcode:2020GeChr...2..425T.doi:10.5194/gchron-2-425-2020.ISSN2628-3697.
  25. ^abcdeFeng, Yonggang; Liang, Ting; Zhang, Ze; Wang, Yiqian; Zhou, Yi; Yang, Xiuqing; Gao, Jinggang; Wang, Hui; Ding, Kun (August 2019)."Columbite U-Pb Geochronology of Kalu'an Lithium Pegmatites in Northern Xinjiang, China: Implications for Genesis and Emplacement History of Rare-Element Pegmatites".Minerals.9(8): 456.Bibcode:2019Mine....9..456F.doi:10.3390/min9080456.ISSN2075-163X.
  26. ^abAkiwumi, Fenda A.; Hollist, Arthur O. (April 2016)."The new kid on the old block: Coltan, conflict-prone minerals, and post-war reconstruction in Sierra Leone".The Extractive Industries and Society.3(2): 316–319.doi:10.1016/j.exis.2015.06.002.
  27. ^abcdeRodríguez-Novoa, Felipe; Holley, Elizabeth (January 2023)."Coexistence between large-scale mining (LSM) and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Perú and Colombia".Resources Policy.80:103162.Bibcode:2023RePol..8003162R.doi:10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.103162.ISSN0301-4207.
  28. ^"Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining",Breaking New Ground,Routledge, pp. 313–334, 2016-12-05,doi:10.4324/9781315541501-17,ISBN978-1-315-54150-1,retrieved2024-04-06

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toColumbite.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Columbite&oldid=1231084096"