Tantalite-(Mn) (rare locality specimen)

Item Description

A very hard to find matrix specimen of Tantalite-(Mn) (formerly Manganotantalite) from the Quixaba pegmatite in Brazil. This locality is not located in Minas Gerais, but rather the smaller northeastern state of Paraíba. This piece features a 3.7 cm, deep red colored, lustrous, partial crystal flaring off of Albite matrix. The front face of the crystal is fine quality, but it's rough around the edges where the piece was removed from the pocket wall. I've only seen a handful of these in my life, and this one is certainly the biggest example we've had to offer.
From the collection of William ("Bill") (1927-2006) and Anne (1928-2021) Cook of Cleveland, Ohio (#10,073). This husband and wife duo were actively involved in the mineral world for many decades. Bill was a PhD geologist, and Anne was a mathematician, and they both were very serious mineral collectors. Bill served for many years as adjunct curator of mineralogy at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Anne was inducted into the Micromounters' Hall of Fame on October 12, 2019. Both Bill and Anne, at various times, served as president both of the Mineralogical Society of Cleveland and of the Micromineral Society of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and Anne was inducted into the mi The rare barium lithium beryllium phosphate Wilancookite was named in their honor in 2015.