White crystal group of the very rare Li-Ta oxide mineral lithiotantite from the type locality: Ognevka Deposit, Ulan, Kalba Range, Eastern Kazakhstan Province, Kazakhstan. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection specimen, from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Lithiotantite
Lithiotantite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula LiTa₃O₈.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 6–6.5; specific gravity 7; Adamantine luster.
IMA symbol Ltan, IMA status: approved, named in 1982.
Found in microcline-albite zones of granite pegmatites.
It is found associated with Lepidolite, apatite, albite, thoreaulite, cassiterite, rankamaite, irtyshite (“Eastern Kazakhstan”); cassiterite, calciotantite, microlite, thoreaulite.
The name refers to LITHIum and TANTalum in its composition.