Tantalite-(Mn)

Item Description

Fine set of interpenetrating, prismatic crystals of deep cherry-red Manganotantalite from the Alta Ligonha pegmatites of Mozambique (probalby early to mid 1900s). The sub-metallic luster is so good that the reflectivity seems to only allow flashes of just how red the crystals are. Back light this quality thumbnail and you can appreciate just how gemmy and red these crystals truly are. Mining had to be a tortuous process being a pegmatite, so a bit of edgewear is not at all surprising, and it detracts little from the form or the better than normal gemminess. Very highly representative of this rare oxide species and locality, this was previously in the famous collection of Josie Scripps, the legendary San Diego heiress and collector who helped kickstart mineral collecting in San Diego in the 1900s. She did collect thumbnails, particularly.