Detailed information
Species
Tapiolite-(Fe)
Dimensions
32 x 30 x 25
mm
Weight
52 g
Locality
Equador Rio Grande do Norte Brazil
Condition
No recorded repairs
Tapiolite-(Fe) is a rare tantalum-bearing species and when encountered is usually an ore of this rare, and extremely important element, so mineral specimens are rarely preserved for study or collection. This quite large individual crystal (3.2 x 3 x 2.5 cm) is not perhaps the most shapely, but Tapiolite-(Fe) crystals are exceptionally rare and typically quite small. The richness of this piece can be in part gauged by its weight - at 52 g - which shows how tense this species is. It is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).