BERTHIERITE
Specimen brt-1
$ 50.00Dims: 2.1" x 1.3" x 1.1" (5.3 x 3.3 x 2.8 cm)
Wt: 1.18 oz. (33.6 g)
Herja, Romania
Not only is the chemical composition of this mineral similar to stibnite, it looks like it, too! This small hand specimen consists of at least 3 intersecting clusters of Berthierite; one is much larger than the rest, having dimensions of 2.0 x 1.3 x 1.0 (5.1 x 3.3 x 2.5 cm). The other clusters are quite small, and intersect the larger cluster near its base. The crystals all have the form of fine, orthorombic needles that are tightly packed into acicular sprays. Like most metallic sulfide minerals, they are opaque and have a metallic luster. Their color is a medium-dark gray. Though I cannot tell how many of the crystals have been broken, the specimen is in generally good condition, showing a small amount of noticeable damage to two of the clusters. There is no host rock or other foreign material on the specimen.