Ashanite

Formula:  (Nb, Ta, U, Fe, Mn)₄O₈

Origin of name:  After locality; Altai Mountains (Shan, Chinese for mountains), Mongolia, China

Crystal system:  Orthorhombic

Crystal class:  2/m 2/m 2/m

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 5.869 Å, b = 4.873 Å, c = 5.216 Å

Colour:  Dark brown to blackish

Diaphaneity: Opaque

Luster:  Semimetallic

Habit:

Hardness:  5.8 to 6.6

Specific gravity:  6.61

Cleavage:  None

Tenacity:

Streak:  Brownish

Synonyms/varieties:

Comments: Discredited IMA 1998. Found in the central part of a pegmatite in albitised two-mica granite in association with tantalum-rich columbite, thorium-rich monazite and ishikawaite.