Formula: SnTa2O6
Origin of name: for Jacques Thoreau (1886-1971), Belgian mineralogist, University of Louvain, Belgium, authority on Congolese (Zairian) mineral occurrences.
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal class: 2/m
Twinning: On {010} as composition face, lamellar
Unit cell: a = 17.14, b = 4.865, c = 5.548, β = 91°
Colour: brown, yellow brown, resin brown, red when altered
Diaphaneity: Opaque to translucent in thin fragments
Luster: Resinous to adamantine on the cleavage
Habit: Crystals short prismatic, subhedral, lamellar twinning, masses to 10 cm
Hardness: 5.5 to 6
Specific gravity: 7.6 to 7.9
Cleavage: 2; {100} perfect, {011} imperfect
Tenacity:
Streak: Brown to yellow, slightly greenish
Synonyms/varieties:
Comments: Series with foordite. Secondary mineral in cassiterite-bearing rocks
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