Australian Museum Acquires Rare Gemstones from Critical Minerals

The Australian Museum has obtained two rare gemstones faceted from critical minerals: a 0.86-carat lemon yellow Stibiotantalite and a 1.19-carat red Tantalite-(Mn). These specimens originate from the Alto Lighoña region in Mozambique and were originally collected by Walter Oberholzer, a professor at ETH University of Zurich, after World War II. Gemmologists David and Maria Atkinson faceted the stones in 1985. The acquisition, funded by the Australian Museum Research Institute, enhances the museum's collection of unusual gems from typically opaque ore minerals, now displayed in the Minerals gallery alongside other rare specimens like Cerussite and Cuprite.