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Tantalite In Topaz With Fluorite & Cassiterite

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PMN743240

Tantalite In Topaz With Fluorite & Cassiterite

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Dassu, Braldu Valley, Skardu District, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Class: 
Combination
Size Range: 
Miniature (4.5-7 cm)
Size: 
4 × 5.5 × 4 cm
Largest Crystal: 
2.50cm
Weight: 
68.00gr
Description

My assumption is that the inclusions in this topaz are tantalite - but it has not been analysed or confirmed, other options are Rutile or Goethite. There is a group of small, lustrous cassiterite present on the albite and there are many dark brown tourmaline crystals to discover as well as other smaller topaz crystals, To top it off, there is a matte, green fluorite cluster. A nice broad representation of Skardu district pegmatite minerals. 

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Tantalite

Group Parent: 
Tantalite-(Fe)-Tantalite-(Mn) Series

Topaz

Formula: 
Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2
Strunz: 
9.AF.35
Crystal System: 
Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
Hardness: 
8.0
Streak: 
White

Fluorite

Formula: 
CaF2
Strunz: 
3.AB.25
Crystal System: 
Isometric
Hardness: 
4.0
Streak: 
White
Type Locality: 
Jáchymov (St Joachimsthal), Jáchymov District (St Joachimsthal), Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge), Karlovy Vary Region, Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic

Cassiterite

Formula: 
SnO2
Strunz: 
4.DB.05
Crystal System: 
Tetragonal
Hardness: 
6.0 - 7.0