Columbite-(Fe) - Petaca Mining District, New Mexico, USA (Analyzed)

Fe²⁺Nb₂O₆

The Petaca Mining District in New Mexico is renowned for its pegmatite-hosted deposits of rare minerals, including columbite-(Fe), a niobium-iron oxide mineral. Columbite-(Fe) from this district typically occurs as black, submetallic to slightly dull crystals, often embedded in coarse-grained granite pegmatites. These pegmatites are highly evolved and rich in rare elements, providing an ideal environment for the formation of columbite. The mineral is often found in association with other niobium and tantalum minerals, as well as quartz, feldspar, and mica. Specimens from the Petaca Mining District are valued for their quality and as representative examples of rare-metal mineralization in pegmatite systems.

Columbite-(Fe) is an important ore of niobium, a metal critical for high-strength steel alloys, superconductors, and aerospace applications. The Petaca Mining District has contributed significantly to the understanding of niobium-tantalum enrichment in pegmatites, as its deposits provide clear examples of the geochemical processes involved in their concentration. Today, columbite-(Fe) from Petaca is prized not only for its economic relevance but also for its role in advancing geological and mineralogical research. The district remains an iconic locality for collectors and researchers exploring rare-element pegmatites.

This specimen has been collected and analyzed by Charles Young, and includes a copy of the XRF report.

Approx. specimen size: 40mm x 25mm x 25mm

Approx. specimen activity: 2700 cpm