Editing Columbite (section)

== Formation ==
Columbite is often found in [[pegmatite]] and alluvial deposits, as well as [[Granite|granitic]] rocks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Wise |first1=Michael A. |last2=Brown |first2=Cathleen D. |date=2011-12-01 |title=Chemical composition of coexisting columbite-group minerals and cassiterite from the Black Mountain pegmatite, Maine |url=http://www.schweizerbart.de/papers/ejm/detail/23/76409/Chemical_composition_of_coexisting_columbite_group?af=crossref |journal=European Journal of Mineralogy |language=en |volume=23 |issue=5 |pages=817–828 |doi=10.1127/0935-1221/2011/0023-2102 |bibcode=2011EJMin..23..817W |issn=0935-1221}}</ref> Columbite minerals are mainly composed of [[magnesium]], [[iron]], [[niobium]], and [[tantalum]] where trace amounts of [[tin]], [[titanium]], and [[scandium]] have been observed.<ref name=":0" /> The overall composition of columbite influences the crystalline structure resulting in different formation processes. Currently, there are two prominent theories for the formation of columbite. One theory was developed due to a strong attraction of [[niobium]] and [[tantalum]], within columbite, to silicate melts found in the earth's crust or mantle.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=Zuo |first1=Yushan |last2=Gao |first2=Zhengxi |last3=Zuo |first3=Lei |last4=Zhang |first4=Peng |last5=Liu |first5=Rui |last6=Zhang |first6=Qing |last7=Zhang |first7=Tingting |date=2022-12-03 |editor-last=Yang |editor-first=Fan |title=Ultrastructure of a Columbite-Tantalite Mineral from the Zhaojinggou Ta-Nb Deposit in the North China Craton: Direct Evidence of the Formation Mechanism of the Columbite-Group Minerals |journal=Geofluids |language=en |volume=2022 |pages=1–9 |doi=10.1155/2022/8125419 |doi-access=free |issn=1468-8123}}</ref> In addition, the presence of magma forms columbite by undergoing two [[crystallization]] processes.<ref name=":1" /> The first [[crystallization]] process creates a [[niobium]] core and the second [[crystallization]] process creates a [[tantalum]] rim.<ref name=":1" /> This theory is prominent due to the texture of the mineral during the fluid stage, and the magmatic fractional [[crystallization]] that occurs during formation.<ref name=":6" /> Another prominent theory of the formation of [[niobium]] and [[tantalum]], in Columbite minerals, occurs due to hydrothermal fluids.<ref name=":6" /> This theory suggests that hydrothermal fluids interact with columbite during formation and as a result irregular crystals are formed.<ref name=":1" />

It is possible that both theories work in conjunction with one another to form columbite minerals as well as different species of columbite such as mangancolumbite, ferrocolumbite, and yttrocolumbite.