Moving mountains for you
Switch currency

Current Live Auctions

Current Live Fixed Price Sales

Columbite-(Mn) & Tantalite-(Mn)

Views:
Watches:
LMB531215

Columbite-(Mn) & Tantalite-(Mn)

Classic Locality

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Bennett Quarry, Buckfield, Oxford County, Maine, United States of America
Class: 
Crystals on Matrix
Size Range: 
Thumbnail (1-3cm)
Size: 
0.9 × 1.1 × 0.7 cm
Weight: 
2.00gr
Description

The Bennett quarry is perhaps best knows for the “Rose of Maine” – a giant 30 cm gem morganite crystal found here in October 1989. But there is much else here, both micro and macro. The one time that I was there, I came away with, among other things, several small, but well formed crystals of columbite/tantalite-(Mn). (Both species are found here. If they can be visually distinguished, I don’t know how.)

This specimen has three such crystals, spanning perhaps 2.4  mm altogether. FOV in the first pair of photos is 2.5 x 3.3 mm. In the third photo (FOV 3.9 x 3.3 mm), the top crystal on the right is about 1.3 mm. The crystal on the left may have a broken top. The fourth photo (FOV 4.0 x 4.6 mm) is a “back” view.

Single item shipping weight is 2.9 oz. Note that USPS foreign packet rates recently increased significantly. It may be advantageous for foreign customers to hold an "open box" so as to reduce postage costs by combining items from a future auction. Let me know, and I will generate a new “item only” invoice. Postage will be invoiced when all items are actually shipped.

Outside the USA, the stated postage and packing rate applies up to a total weight of 8 oz (225 g). It is no longer possible to save postage by using a padded envelope.

Within the USA, there is a nominal increase of $0.20 for each additional ounce. Above 13 oz, I will use Priority Mail. Up to 16 oz, the “own box” Priority rate is $8.50 (including packing).

Please see my "Shipping Policy" for details. 

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Columbite-(Mn)

Formula: 
(Mn,Fe)(Nb,Ta)2O6
Strunz: 
4.DB.35
Hardness: 
6.0

Tantalite-(Mn)

Formula: 
MnTa2O6
Strunz: 
4.DB.35
Hardness: 
6.0
Type Locality: 
Utö Mines, Utö, Södermanland, Sweden
LMB minerals

Seller Information

Payment options: offline, paypal_wpp, paypal_wps

Seller's terms and conditions

In addition to the standard terms and conditions, please note the following. Almost all IDs are visual. While in most cases the ID is obvious, there may be cases where it is not. If you are doubtful about a particular ID, please ask for more information. Or do not bid! Similarly, if you are not sure that the specimen meets your criteria, do not bid. I have tdone the best I can with the photos. Nevertheless, if you are not happy with a specimen for any reason, I will refund the bid price – but not the shipping costs (unless the fault is clearly mine) – if the specimen is returned. This policy applies even if analysis of the specimen shows that my ID was incorrect. When in doubt, ask - or don’t bid. Note that most crystals at MSH and Varennes are micros - even if on large specimens. Please pay attention to the stated sizes. Any customs duties, fees etc. are the responsibility of the buyer.