earth science

Ixiolite

Ixiolite is a earth science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Ixiolite rather than just read about it. In short: Ixiolite is an accessory oxide mineral found in granitic pegmatites. It is an oxide with the general chemical formula (Ta,Nb,Sn,Mn,Fe)4O8 or (Ta,Mn,Nb)O2.

Key takeaways

Ixiolite belongs to earth science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Ixiolite to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Ixiolite from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Ixiolite is an accessory oxide mineral found in granitic pegmatites. It is an oxide with the general chemical formula (Ta,Nb,Sn,Mn,Fe)4O8 or (Ta,Mn,Nb)O2.

Structure Ixiolite was originally reported as crystallizing in the monoclinic crystal system. Detailed studies of the scandium, tin and titanium rich varieties indicate that they form crystals in the orthorhombic system whereas tungsten ixiolite is monoclinic.

Discovery and occurrence It was first described in 1857 for an occurrence at Skogsböle, Kimito Island, Finland. The name is for Ixion, the Greek mythological character related to Tantalus, as the mineral contains tantalum. Ixiolite is typically associated with feldspar, tapiolite, cassiterite, microlite, and rutile.

Substitution and varieties Trace elements include zirconium, hafnium, titanium and tungsten. As with other tantalum and niobium bearing minerals considerable substitution and a number of varieties exist. Substitutions in the formula are common and the varieties stannian ixiolite (tin), titanian ixiolite (titanium) and wolframian ixiolite (tungsten) have been reported. Scandium is present in many ixiolite sample with percentages up to 4.0 percent Sc2O3, but usually less than one percent scandium oxide. High scandium ixiolites, containing from 4 to 19% scandium oxide are typically also rich in tin and titanium.

Economic importance Ixiolite together with microlite, tantalite, tapiolite, wodginite are the most important minerals mined for the element tantalum. Ixiolite contains about 69 % tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) and is a common constituent of coltan ore.

Further reading Grice JD, Černý P, Ferguson RB (1972). "The Tanco pegmatite at Bernic Lake, Manitoba. II. Wodginite, tantalite, pseudo-ixiolite and related minerals" (PDF). The Canadian Mineralogist. 11: 609–642. Grice JD, Ferguson RB, Hawthorne FC (1976). "The crystal structures of tantalite, ixiolite and wodginite from Bernic Lake, Manitoba I. Tantalite and ixiolite" (PDF). The Canadian Mineralogist. 14: 540–549. The crystal structures of tantalite, ixiolite and wodginite from Bernic Lake, Manitoba; II, Wodginite

References

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Ixiolite

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Ixiolite claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In earth science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Ixiolite before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Ixiolite ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Ixiolite

In research: Ixiolite appears in earth science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Ixiolite in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Ixiolite is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Minerals in space group 60, Orthorhombic minerals, Oxide minerals, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Ixiolite outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Ixiolite in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Ixiolite means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Ixiolite out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ixiolite in simple terms?

Ixiolite is an accessory oxide mineral found in granitic pegmatites. It is an oxide with the general chemical formula (Ta,Nb,Sn,Mn,Fe)4O8 or (Ta,Mn,Nb)O2.

Why does Ixiolite matter?

Because it connects several earth science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Ixiolite?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Ixiolite.