A single, blocky crystal of the uncommon mineral Tantalite-(Mn), from the famous Stewart mine at Pala in San Diego County, California, USA. The Formerly known as the Stewart Lithia mine, this mine is situated within Tourmaline Queen Mountain, a promising start to any such mining venture. It's similar, say, to buying a house on Haunted Hill, you can immediately foresee the probable outcome! Tourmaline Queen Mountain certainly excites me into thinking a visit might well be worth my time! The area comprises of a granitic pegmatite-aplite dyke complex, rich in lithium and a wide suite of gem and ore minerals. Although incomplete, this remains a very fine crystal of Tantalite-(Mn), part of two solid solution series; the Tantalite-(Fe) - Tantalite-(Mn) series and the Columbite-(Mn) - Tantalite-(Mn) series.
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