Tantalite-(Mn)

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Tantalite-(Mn) is a very rare species, but that from Murrua in Mulevala District, Mozambique has an even rarer property - its colour. For a species which is usually dark coloured and opaque, some crystals from Murrua are the complete opposite - translucent and with a rich wine-red colour. With back lighting they glow amazingly. This large thumbnail crystal, or crystals, is magnificent, displaying the famous twinning so evident in Murrua specimens too. Despite being small, this is a sizable aggregate of crystals from this important occurrence. The longest individual crystal is 2.7 cm in length.