Tantalcarbide

Tantalcarbide is a rare mineral of tantalum carbide with formula TaC. With a molecular weight of 192.96 g/mol, its primary constituents are tantalum (93.78%) and carbon (6.22%), and has an isometric crystal system. It generally exhibits a bronze or brown to yellow color. On the Mohs hardness scale it registers as a 6-7. Tantalcarbide is generally found in a granular state. It is extremely dense at 14.6 g/ c m 3 {\displaystyle cm^{3}} . Sub-conchoidal fracturing is exhibited. Specimens are extremely rare in nature. It is the only known mineral to exhibit the composition of TaC. Tantalum carbide powder is used for many real world applications. Generally however it is not produced from the mineral tantalcarbide due to the rarity. Instead it is prepared by other means.