THE MINERAL STIBNITE

Dims: 3" x 3" x 1"

Wt: 8.5 oz

Raura Mine, Ancash, Peru

Wonderful metallic blades up to 1-3/4 inches long grace an otherwise nondescript slab of rock in this specimen. In an odd-looking circumstance, the largest spray of crystals began their growth at a height of 5/8 inch above the host rock, radiating down into it. There are a total of five clusters of this antimony sulfide on the matrix rock, with each one having grown so that its crystals stab downward into the matrix. This piece is intriguing.

Dims: 3" x 3" x 2"

Wt: 2.6 oz

Raura Mine, Ancash, Peru

What makes this piece amazing is that it is composed of five radiating clusters of Stibnite crystals, some of which are 2 inches long, most of which are over 1 inch long, and there is no host rock. Some of these crystals are coated with calcite, which has formed tiny dogtooth crystals, but the only things that really keep these clusters together are the places where crystals intersect each other, creating a simple "web" (that was a thoroughly unintentional play on words, ugh!). This is really a gorgeous piece that is worthy of a serious collector.

Dims: 1-1/2" x 1-3/4" x 1"

Wt: 1.4oz

Huaron Mine, Ancash, Peru

Several excellent clusters of Stibnite crystals adorn this specimen. The crystals are darkly metallic and reach up to 1/12 inches long, and all of the clusters start at points on the edges of the specimen, radiating inwards. The matrix that they penetrate is a mystery to me- I would think it should be calcite, but this material doesn't react to acids! It looks feldspar-related, but there are no feldspars in the Ancash mines, so I guess that leaves quartz. This is a terrific little piece!

Dims: 4-1/2" x 4" x 3"

Wt: 2 lbs., 2.4 oz

Pachapaqui Mine, Ancash, Peru

Hollows cover at least 30% of the surface area of the host rock on this Peruvian specimen, and in those hollows lie hundreds of tiny, slender Stibnite crystals. Several minute dogtooth calcites accompany the Stibnites, making nice white counterparts to the dark metallic points. The largest of these antimony sulfide crystals measures about 3/8 inch; it is in deep hollow with others of its kind. Along with the assorted mineral "needles", one can find tiny, stubby quartz crystals lining parts of the hollows and some pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite on the reverse.

Dims: 4-1/2" x 4" x 3"

Wt: 2 lbs., 2.4 oz

Felsobanya, Romania

There is no host rock of any sort on this specimen. it looks simply like an explosion frozen in metallic rock, with hundreds upon hundreds of needlelike Stibnite crystals stabbing outward from a central point. Some of the larger crystals have tiny needles growing off of their prism faces. They all have the gray color and metallic luster that is common in Stibnite, and though a few dozen of the crystals show noticeable damage, there are so many of them here that the specimen is still in very good condition. It is, of course, very delicate and should be handled with great care. I don't know how common the Romanian locality is, but I don't hear of very many minerals that come from there.

Dims: 5.5" x 3.25" x 2.75"(14.0 x 8.3 x 7.0 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 0.8 oz.(476 g)

Pachapaqui Mine, Ancash, Peru

This specimen basically consists of 4 small Stibnite clusters on a quartz matrix. The clusters do not exceed 1.5"(3.8 cm) in diameter. They do, however, rest amidst a cluster of long thin, quartz crystals on what appears to be a portion of a geode. There are no other minerals near them- they are alone on the quartz bed. The underside of the specimen also has remnants of metallic sulfide crystals on it, but there are no complete crystals. The quartz crystals that harbor the Stibnite clusters reach a maximum length of about 1"(2.5 cm), are somewhat milky and have a waxy to pearly luster; several of them are damaged and incomplete. They add the perfect contrast to the needlelike, dark gray clusters of Stibnite.

Dims: 2.2" x 1.8" x 1.4"(5.6 x 4.6 x 3.6 cm)

Wt: 2.94 oz.(83.6 g)

Raura Mine, Ancash, Peru

This specimen has almost no matrix to speak of; most of its mass is made up of Stibnite crystals that appear to be somewhat weathered. Although there are dozens of crystals on the specimen, very few terminations are visible. This is because their points of origin all occur on the outside of the specimen, with the crystals radiating inwards. The crystals have a uniform gray color, dull metallic luster, and occur in the form of long needlelike prisms with slanted terminations. The small amount of host rock appears to be a limestone or possibly a quartzite. This specimen has similarities to the STI-2 specimen from the same locality.

Dims: 2.2" x 1.3" x 1.3"(5.6 x 3.3 x 3.3 cm)

Wt: 20.9 g

Resbanya, Romania

This specimen simply consists of two intersecting sprays of radiating Stibnite blades. These bladed crystals are rather fine, not exceeding 3 mm in width or 1 mm in thickness, and reach a maximum length of just under 2"(5.0 cm). There is surprisingly little damage, mostly in the form of broken or missing "tented" terminations. All the crystals have a gray color and metallic luster, and are opaque. There is no other material, nor any evidence of a host rock. It is a very beautiful and delicate specimen that should be handled with some care, so that one will not break it or stab his or herself with the fine, sharp crystals.

Dims: 2.1" x 1.8" x 1.2"(5.3 x 4.6 x 3.0 cm)

Wt: 3.04 oz. (86.4 g)

Baiutz, Romania

This small hand specimen consists of two intergrown clusters of Stibnite crystals that seem to erupt from two unusually small patches of microcrystalline quartz. The largest crystals do not exceed dimensions of 1.2 x 0.4 x 0.1" (3.0 x 1.0 x 0.3 cm), but all are in generally excellent condtion, as there is very little visible damage other than where the specimen was separated from its place of origin. The crystals are thicker than most that I have seen coming from Romania, and have a darker gray, almost black color and a duller metallic luster. All have excellent orthorombic bladed form and clean, smooth termination faces and well-defined edges, even considering their heavily striated prism faces! There is a small amount of a massive, dull brown material that coats small portions of some of the crystals, but this is the only other material besides the Stibnite itself and the agate "host rock". It is one of the finest Stibnite specimens that we have had.

Dims: 1.7 x 1.3 x 1.1" (4.3 x 3.3 x 2.8 cm)

Wt: 13.6 g

Herja, Romania

This small specimen consists of a cluster of Stibnite blades that is attached to a small base of crystalline calcite. This cluster consists of scores, perhaps even hundreds of Stibnite blades that range from a few millimeters to 1.5" (3.8 cm) in length and from a fraction of 1 mm to 3 or 4 mm in width. Many of these are damaged, mostly in the form of missing terminations, but many others are intact and in excellent condition. Their orthorhombic bladed form is very good, with well-defined edges and striated but clean faces. All have the standard moderate dark gray color and metallic luster of their species. The calcite base has a dull gray color and is made up of countless tiny, intergrown "dogtooth" crystals.

Dims: 2.4" x 0.8" x 0.4" (6.1 x 2.0 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 6.6 g

Herja, Romania

This large thumbnail specimen consists of a single spray of orthorhombic Stibnite needles- there are at least 20 of them. Though several of them are noticeably damaged and incomplete, most are intact, showing shallow domed terminations. They have the dark gray color and metallic luster that one expects from Stibnite, and range in length from about 1.0 - 2.4" (2.5 - 6.1 cm). There is no host rock or any material other than Stibnite on the specimen.

Dims: 2.5 x 2.0 x 1.6" (6.4 x 5.1 x 4.1 cm)

Wt: 3.1 oz. (88.3 g)

Lushi, Hunan Province, China

This hand specimen consists of a cluster of thick Stibnite needles that extend from a weathered calcite base. Though many of these crystals are damaged, the largest ones are in excellent condition and reach lengths of up to 2.5" (6.4 cm). Their orthorhombic bladed form is rather unusual- most of the crystals are noticeably bent from twinning planes, and almost all of the complete crystals terminate with sharp points. Otherwise, they have well-defined edges and striated but clean faces. Their moderately dark gray color and metallic luster are standard for their species. The calcite base from which they extend has been eroded with some form of acid to expose the Stibnites.

Dims: 4.2 x 0.4 x 0.2" (10.7 x 1.0 x 0.5 cm)

Wt: 13.2 g

Hunan Province, China

This specimen consists of a single Stibnite crystal that is in very good condition- it shows only a small amount of human-induced damage near its termination. Its orthorhombic prismatic form is very good, with well-defined edges and striated but generally clean faces. It has the standard moderately dark silvery-gray color and metallic luster that one expects of this piece, and shows an interesting little quirk that sometimes occurs in this mineral. There is a "kink" in the crystal about 0.5" (1.3 cm) from its termination, where it angles slightly- this inconsistency is a result of twinning. Besides a few smatterings of a dull, cream-colored crust along its prism length, there is no other material or host present.

Dims: 5.4 x 0.4 x 0.3" (13.7 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm)

Wt: 24.2 g

Hunan Province, China

A single Stibnite crystal makes up this specimen. The Stibnite is in moderately good condition, as it shows considerable damage on three of its edges. It has very good orthorhombic prismatic form, though, as its edges are well-defined and its faces are striated but clean, and possess a metallic luster. It has the standard moderately dark gray coloration of its species, and bends slightly about 1.7" (4.3 cm) below its termination due to a twinning effect. Its termination also has very good form (see the close-up image), though it too is damaged. There is no host rock present.

Dims: 4.5 x 2.0 x 1.9" (11.4 x 5.1 x 4.8 cm)

Wt: 3.8 oz. (108.4 g)

Lushi, Hunan Province, China

This beautiful specimen consists of several intersecting clusters of radiating Stibnite prisms. Though several of these prisms are damaged and incomplete, most are in excellent condition and have intact terminations. The largest of these crystals measure up to 3.7" (9.4 cm)long. Their orthorhombic prismatic form appears to be rather warped, but is still definable. Edges and faces are somewhat disseminated, but are still definable and possess the standard metallic luster. As with most Stibnite, these crystals have a moderately dark silver-gray coloration. Some of them are coated on one side with crusts made up of small, heavily-intergrown calcite crystals. One of the most exposed of these is rather interesting due to the fact that after the calcite coated the Stibnite blade, most of the Stibnite separated from the crust and broke off. There is no host rock present.

Dims: 4.2 x 3.5 x 2.5" (10.7 x 8.9 x 6.4 cm)

Wt: 1 lb., 7.7 oz. (672 g)

Baiuz, Romania

This large hand specimen appears to consist of a single cluster of flat, almost tabular Stibnite blades. It is difficult to tell whether there is one cluster or whether a few have intergrown, but the piece contains perhaps 200 crystals. These Stibnites reach lengths of up to 1.8" (4.6 cm) and are generally in good condition, though there are serveral that are noticeably damaged or broken. All have good orthorhombic form, with slightly rounded edges and striated, moderately clean faces that possess an almost silky, metallic luster. Their color is the standard dark silvery-gray, and the are, of course, opaque. There is almost no host rock present, but what is there on the underside of the specimen appears to be made of massive, white calcite or limestone. A few clusters of tiny pyrite crystals and a few misshapen chalcopyrites are visible near the calcite.

Dims: 2.8 x 2.7 x 2.2" (7.1 x 6.9 x 5.6 cm)

Wt: 6.96 oz. (197.5 g)

Romania

Several small Stibnite clusters rest on the crystalline quartz base of this specimen. These clusters are mostly intergrown, but a few are separate from the rest. Each is made up of scores of tiny Stibnite blades that do not exceed0.3" (8 mm) in length or 1 mm in width or thickness. Two of the clusters show some visible damage, but the rest are in excellent condition. The crystals have good orthorhombic bladed form and possess the standard dark gray color and metallic luster of their species. The quartz base is made up of a broken piece of a crystal and has a deep rust-red coloration. A very thin layer of black, semicrystalline Stibnite coats the areas where the clusters rest.

Dims: 3.6 x 2.6 x 1.0" (9.1 x 6.6 x 2.5 cm)

Wt: 2.00 oz. (56.7 g)

Herja, Romania

This hand specimen consists almost entirely of intergrown Stibnite clusters that are generally in very good condition. Each cluster contains several thin Stibnite needles that do not exceed 1.0" (2.5 cm) in length. These needles have excellent orthorhombic form and the standard dark gray color and slightly dull metallic luster of their specie. Almost no other material is present on the piece- only a very small amount of a quartz or calcite crust in one area is visible.

Dims: 3.4 x 2.8 x 1.7" (8.6 x 7.2 x 4.4 cm)

Wt: 11.0 oz. (310 g)

unknown (likely Herja, Romania)

Scores of small Stibnite blades extend from the brown base of this cabinet specimen. These blades do not exceed 0.8" (2.0 cm) and are generally in very good condition- damage tends to be light. Their orthorhombic form is excellent, and all show the dark gray color, metallic luster and parallel striations that are standard for the specie. The dark brown base is partly coated with a crust of finely crystalline ankerite or siderite and a small dusting of either tiny pyrite or marcasite crystals.

Dims: 1.2 x 1.0 x 1.0" (2.0 x 2.5 x 2.5 cm)

Wt: 9 g w/ foam base

Julcani Mine, Angaraes Province, Huancavelica Department, Peru

This thumbnail piece consists of a few dozen small Stibnite prisms that extend from what appears to be a quartz base. These crystals reach lengths of almost 0.6" (14 mm) and are generally in excellent condition. Their orthorhombic prismatic form is excellent, with many showing a 4-sided domed termination. All have the standard dark gray color and dull metallic luster. The quartz base plays host to many tiny quartz crystals, and is glued inside a plastic specimen box.

Dims: 0.9 x 0.8 x 0.8" (2.4 x 2.0 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 6 g w/ foam base

Julcani Mine, Angaraes Province, Huancavelica Department, Peru

A spray of beautiful Stibnites rests on the small quartz base of this thumbnail piece. They are in excellent condition, showing very little damage, and reach lengths of 0.9" (2.3 cm). Their orthorhombic form is likewise excellent, and each shows a rather interesting hexagonal outline when viewed from the top. All have the standard dark gray color and dull metallic luster. The base is milky white and contains a few tiny crystals- it is hot-glued inside a plastic thumbnail box.

Dims: 1.2 x 0.8 x 0.6" (3.1 x 2.1 x 1.5 cm)

Wt: 6 g w/ foam base

Julcani Mine, Angaraes Province, Huancavelica Department, Peru

A few sprays of radiating Stibnite prisms extend from the milky quartz base of this specimen. These crystals do not exceed 0.3" (8 mm) in length and are generally in very good condition. Their orthorhombic form is excellent, showing good definition in their outlines and terminations. All have the dark gray color and dull metallic luster that are standard for the specie. The piece is hot-glued onto a foam base that fits into the included thumbnail box.

Dims:5.5x4.5x2.2" (14.0x11.4x5.6 cm)

Wt: 14.9oz. (423g)

Herja, Romania

The entire surface of this specimen is covered with fine, hair-like crystals of stibnite. On one end of the specimen, there is a radial spray of stibnite crystals to 0.5" (1.3cm) in length. Scattered over the stibnite hairs are tiny gray crystals of calcite. A secondary growth of tiny calcites, honey in color, is found ranging around the large spray of stibnite crystals. These calcites may only be truly appreciated when viewed under magnification.

Dims:5.2x1.1x0.5" (13.2x2.8x1.3 cm)

Wt: 0.5oz. (14g)

China

This is an exceptionally aesthetic specimen of stibnite crystals. From an intergrown mass of fine crystals, a long, slender blade rises nearly 4 inches above the others. Some of the lower crystals are broken, but this does not detract from the beauty of this specimen. Calcite encrusts some of the lower crystals. One of the smaller crystals exhibits the "bent crystal" appearance sometimes seen in stibnite. This is due to the presence of glide planes within the crystal structure.

Dims: 2.6 x 2.0 x 0.9" ( 6.8 x 5.0 x 1.3 cm)

Wt: 2.17oz. (61.5g)

Herja, Romania

This specimen exhibits a very nice spray of stibnite crystals on a calcarious matrix. There is a second (tiny) spray, and several isolated needles. One side of the matrix is covered with a hodgepodge of minerals, including dogtooth calcites, what appears to be a colorless transparent cube (flourite?), and several black minerals including some small black spheres. This is a nice display piece, AND an interesting specimen to examine under a loupe.

Dims: 4.5x3.2x3.2" (11.4x8.2x8.1 cm)

Wt: 6.9 oz. (195.3g)

Herja, Romania

This hand specimen presents an interesting spray of stibnite crystals on a plate consisting of dark gray crystals abruptly changing to colorless crystals - both crystals have identical form of transparent blades organized in spherical aggregations (rosettes) - I suspect that they are barite. The stibnite sprays are dense clusters of stibnite needles, most of which radiate from just a couple of points on the matrix. There is an interesting crystal spray that seems to radiate out of nothing and intersects with the top of the largest spray.

Dims: 2.6x1.6x1.4" (6.6x3.9x3.5cm)

Wt: 1.81 oz. (51.1g)

Kisbanya, Hungary

This is a different stibnite habit than one usually finds. Instead of a spray of distinctive metallic silver needles, this specimen consists of thin parallel blades with a coating of acicular crystals, all held together with some white translucent crystals that share the same orientation. It almost looks like a stallactitic form, although with very tiny features. Adding to the specimen's appeal is that the stibnite has been tarnished blue, and in bright light (such as sunlight) it sparkles extremely well, not only from simple reflectio, but also blue and other colors. This is a most unusual stibnite specimen.

Dims: 2.05x1.64x0.74" (5.20x4.16x1.89cm)

Wt: 1.20oz (33.9g)

Herja, Baia Mare, Romania

I like this stibnit specimen, because the individual crystals vary in length and they are clustered (instead of uniformly distributed), giving the specimen some character and visual interest. The individual blades tend to be well formed, are a bright silver color and have a high metallic luster. The individual crystals range in size from a few millimeters wide, to very fine acicular crystals too thin to measure. Except for the fine needles, the crystals all appear to emerge from a single point. There is possibly another mineral present - there are several fragments of a mineral in a massive form. These pieces look like hematite, but that is not likely (hematite forms in oxidizing environments, stibnite in reducing ones). Actually, the color and luster are the sames as the stibnite, and I suspect that these are pieces broken from an earlier massive growth that lodged in the growing needles of this specimen. They look different because we see fracture surfaces instead of crystal faces.

Dims: 1.86x0.95x0.70" (4.73x2.42x1.78cm)

Wt: 0.43oz (12.2g)

Baia Sprie, Baia Mare, Romania

A nice little spray of stibnite crystals, this specimen has many well-shaped, deeply striated blades of stibnite with pyramidal terminations. It also has many blades with a complex cross section and rough terminations with an unfinished or even weathered look. A loupe reveals hundreds of tiny acicular needles and sprays of boulangerite (judging by the gray color and flexibility of the crystals).

Dims: 6.46x5.91x2.40" (16.40x15.00x6.10cm)

Wt: 3lbs, 7.23oz (1563g)

Hunan, China

This cabinet has a large rock with its top surface hosting multiple sprays of lustrous, silvery stibnite crystals. The largest crystal measures over 5cm in length, but only 1.5mm in width. Most crystals are much smaller, with masses of fine intergrown crystals spreading over and down two of the sides of this specimen. Most of the crystals are silvery with a vitreous luster, yet the smaller crystals (especially on the sides) have an irridescent coating. The top of the host rock is coated with a dark green-gray druze that looks like calcite.

Dims: 1.37x1.32x1.20" (3.48x3.36x3.05cm)

Wt: 0.91oz (25.7g)

Herja, Baia Mare, Romania

Three intergrown clusters os stibnite comprise this specimen. They have the usual shape, color, and luster, and all of the crystals are thin, and the longest approaches 4cm in length. Examination with a loupe reveals damage around the sides, plus hundreds of small stibnite crystals at random orientations intergrown with the primary three clusters.

Dims: 1.59x1.33x0.54" (4.03x3.39x1.36cm)

Wt: 0.50oz (14.1g)

Herja, Baia Mare, Romania

This stibnite specimen is dominated by a single radial cluster, whose blades show excellent form. Some of them have the appearance of knife blades. There are a few small clusters of stibnite crystals on one side, providing a nice contrast. A loupe reveals that many of the tips are damaged, and that there are many very fine acicular crystals of stibnite attached to the mail crystals and generally also aiming outward, plus there are numerous tiny calcite crystals present.

Dims: 1.64x1.20x1.05" (4.16x3.06x2.67cm)

Wt: 0.98oz (27.7g)

Mine de Freycinet, Filon croiseur, Ally, Hte Loire, France

This stibnite specimen has an unusual habit, consisting of slightly distorted balls of stibnite crystals on a druze of citrine crystals. The stibnite crystals are rather stubby, not acicular, and the overall shape and density reminds me of cavansite balls.

Dims: 3.18x2.17x1.60" (8.08x5.51x4.06cm)

Wt: 2.91oz (82.5g)

Herja, Romania

This is a great cluster of stibnite crystals, although their luster is more dull than ideal (they almost have a dirty appearance). Still, the spray of crystals is very nice - all of them appear to eminate from a single point. There is some white, granular crystalline mineral also present, mostly between the blades of stibnite near the base of the specimen. Note that when viewed from the top, the crystals look dull and gray. But when viewed from the bottom, they are silvery and lustrous.

Dims: 2.19x1.47x1.45" (5.55x3.72.3.68cm)

Wt: 2.59oz (73.4g)

Herja, Romania

From the top (the end with the crystal points), this stibnite specimen has a bluish-black color and a rather dull appearance. From the bottom (which shows the origination point for all of the individual stibnite crystals), the color is a bright metallic silver with an excellent luster. The contrast is surprising, and adds to the appeal of this specimen. The individual crystals range from 3 or 4 millimeters wide down to hair-like, and in lengths up to several centimeters, with all sizes in between.

dims mm=55.15x45.31x34.35

wt g=44.0

Herja, Romania

This cluster of stibnite crystals looks much less fragile than many - the sprays are much more dense, and the individual crystals are generally thicker and often with a blade appearance. The crystals are black and display a blue irridescent metallic luster.