Class : Oxides and hydroxides
    Subclass : Oxides
    Crystal system : Orthorhombic
    Chemistry : (Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Mg²⁺) (Ta, Nb)₂O₆
    Rarity : Uncommon

Tantalite forms a continuous series with columbite, hence the names columbo-tantalite or tantalo-columbite depending on the dominant element. It owes its name to the tantalum present as a major element in its chemical composition. These "minerals" have such varying chemical compositions that they have been promoted to groups and subdivided according to the dominant element into columbite-(Fe), columbite-(Mn) and colombite-(Mg) (columbite group), tantalite-(Fe) and tantalite-(Mn) (tantalite group). These minerals, difficult to distinguish from one another, are found especially in granitic pegmatites with rare elements, in particular sodium-lithium (sodolithic) and sodium-potassium (sodolithic potassium) pegmatites, where they are usually dark crystals of sometimes impressive size, weighing up to 15 kg. Heavy (density between 5.2 and 8 depending on the mineral), hard, and almost unalterable, these minerals are also very common in alluvium where their main operations are located. The minerals of the tantalite group are essential tantalum ores.

Tantalite-(Fe) : in France the pegmatites of the Monts d'Ambazac in Haute-Vienne (Chanteloube, Chabannes, etc...) have yielded quite a number of crystals of modest size.
 
Tantalite-(Mn) : in France, manganotantalite has been described at the Beauvoir quarry (Echassières, Allier) as well as at Puy Bézin near Ussel (Corrèze).

Tantalite twins commonly on {201} forming hearts and showing a delicate feather-like striation on {010}. This repeated twin can form pseudo-hexagonal trills. Twins on {203} are rarer and give similar heart shapes. Twinning on {501} and on {1 50 0} are very rare.

No scam known for this mineral.