The facts
What manganotantalite actually is
Manganotantalite is classified as columbite-tantalite group, with the composition MnTa₂O₆. It crystallises in the orthorhombic system.
Colour comes from mn²⁺ with Ta gives a deep scarlet to blood red in transmitted light, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 2.19–2.34. Specific gravity around 7.73–7.97. Cleavage: distinct in one direction. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where manganotantalite comes from
Manganotantalite is produced at Muiâne pegmatite, Zambezia, Mozambique, Alto Ligonha, Mozambique and Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How manganotantalite is treated
Untreated. One of the densest transparent gems that can be faceted, at around specific gravity 8. Stones are small, dark and strictly for collectors.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What manganotantalite is confused with
In the trade manganotantalite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Tantalite, Wulfenite, Cuprite or Hübnerite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.19–2.34 and specific gravity 7.73–7.97 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What manganotantalite is used for
Demand for manganotantalite comes from mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 5.5–6.5; cleavage distinct in one direction. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What manganotantalite costs
As a guide, manganotantalite trades around Faceted stones 150–700 USD/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is manganotantalite treated, and how?
Untreated. One of the densest transparent gems that can be faceted, at around specific gravity 8. Stones are small, dark and strictly for collectors.
Where does manganotantalite come from?
Muiâne pegmatite, Zambezia, Mozambique, Alto Ligonha, Mozambique and Minas Gerais, Brazil. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is manganotantalite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 5.5–6.5 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does manganotantalite cost?
Indicatively Faceted stones 150–700 USD/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is manganotantalite confused with?
Most often Tantalite, Wulfenite, Cuprite and Hübnerite. A refractive index of 2.19–2.34 and a specific gravity near 7.73–7.97 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for manganotantalite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about manganotantalite