Rutile var. Struverite (rare - old classic) ex David Burgess Coll

Item Description

Struverite is a rare variety of Tantalum and Iron-rich Rutile. This is an impressive, sharp, tetragonal, interestingly layered dark gray crystal with mostly matte luster and a bit of embedded country rock. There is no Tongafeno Province in Madagascar, as listed on the labels. There is a Tsaramanga or the Tongafeno granite pegmatite in Betafo, Vakinankaratra, but this old-timer resembles struverites from the Ampangabe pegmatite, Miandrarivo, Faratsiho, Vakinankaratra, as shown in MINDAT photographs. This very fine old-timer probably dates to the 1920s, but no proof. Ex John Saul collection. John built a notable collection of the native elements and unusual species, from which this came. An exceptional and pristine floater crystal from the locale. Hefty titanium oxide at 188 grams mass - a massive old specimen!