Summary: The formation of columbite has been observed in two earbonatites in south-west Tanganyika where it is due to autometasomatism following the emplacement of the bodies. Disoriented aggregates of columbite crystallites are formed as pseudomorphs after eubo-octahedra of pyrochlore in sövite. This alteration is accompanied by the addition of Fe, conversion of amphibole and biotite in the sövite to a ferruginous tale. the formation of an iron-bearing carbonate, and the introduction of colloform silica: Ca and Na are lost in part. The general alteration of the sövite can be ascribed to the influx of iron-bearing solutions at relatively low temperature and high pressure.