Staringite, (Fe,Mn)0·5(Sn,Ti)4·5(Ta,Nb)1·0O12, occurs as inclusions in tapiolite from pegmatites at Seridózinho and Pedra Lavreda, Paraiba State, NE. Brazil. An indexed powder pattern is presented. The mineral is tetragonal with a 4·742 Å and c 9·535 Å, and most probably has a ‘trirutile’ structure. Electron-microprobe analysis yielded Ta2O5 21·5%, Nb2O5 1·8, SnO2 73·3, TiO2 0·03, FeO 3·7, MnO 0·3, sum 100·6%. Dcalc 7·17. Micro-indentation hardness (load 100 g) 1033–1187 kg/mm2; reflectivity at 470 nm (R0) 12·8 to (R′e) 14·5%, at 546 nm 12·1–13·9, at 589 nm 12·0–13·7, and at 650 nm 11·8–13·6; staringite is uniaxial positive.