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This Specimen has been sold.
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.8" Metallic Stibnite and Calcite Crystals - China
This is a gorgeous cluster of stibnite crystals with calcite crystals, collected from China. The stibnite crystals have great metallic luster, fine striations and are in overall good shape. This specimen comes on a piece of mineral tack within an acrylic perky display case.
About Stibnite
Stibnite is a striking mineral composed of antimony sulfide and is best known for its metallic luster and dramatic, elongated crystal formations. It often forms slender, prismatic crystals that can cluster into stunning radiating or parallel groups. Its color ranges from silvery-gray to steel-blue, with a reflective sheen that enhances its visual appeal. Stibnite is relatively soft, with a Mohs hardness of 2, making it easy to scratch but still prized for its aesthetic qualities.
This mineral has been historically significant as a primary source of antimony, a metal used in alloys, flame retardants, and batteries. Stibnite specimens are highly sought after by collectors due to their unique appearance and rarity. Major localities include China, Japan, and the United States, with some of the finest examples originating from the Wuning Mine in Jiangxi Province, China. Despite its beauty, stibnite contains toxic antimony and should be handled with care.
Toxicity Warning: Stibnite (antimony) is toxic and can be harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Most of the risk is long-term, chronic exposure to its dust. While a crystal sitting on your shelf doesn't pose a health risk, you should wash your hands after handling, keep out of reach of children, and please don't lick the stibnites.
Stibnite is a striking mineral composed of antimony sulfide and is best known for its metallic luster and dramatic, elongated crystal formations. It often forms slender, prismatic crystals that can cluster into stunning radiating or parallel groups. Its color ranges from silvery-gray to steel-blue, with a reflective sheen that enhances its visual appeal. Stibnite is relatively soft, with a Mohs hardness of 2, making it easy to scratch but still prized for its aesthetic qualities.
This mineral has been historically significant as a primary source of antimony, a metal used in alloys, flame retardants, and batteries. Stibnite specimens are highly sought after by collectors due to their unique appearance and rarity. Major localities include China, Japan, and the United States, with some of the finest examples originating from the Wuning Mine in Jiangxi Province, China. Despite its beauty, stibnite contains toxic antimony and should be handled with care.
Toxicity Warning: Stibnite (antimony) is toxic and can be harmful if inhaled or swallowed. Most of the risk is long-term, chronic exposure to its dust. While a crystal sitting on your shelf doesn't pose a health risk, you should wash your hands after handling, keep out of reach of children, and please don't lick the stibnites.
About Calcite Crystals
Calcite crystals are a form of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) known for their diverse shapes, transparency, and vibrant range of colors. They typically form in rhombohedral, scalenohedral, or prismatic shapes, often with well-defined, sharp edges and glossy surfaces. Calcite crystals are often translucent or transparent, sometimes displaying a double refraction effect where objects viewed through the crystal appear doubled. They can appear in various colors—white, clear, yellow, pink, blue, green, and orange—depending on impurities or trace minerals.
A notable characteristic of calcite is its reaction with weak acids like vinegar, which causes it to effervesce, or fizz, as it releases carbon dioxide. This property makes calcite crystals a key tool in geological identification and studies. Calcite forms in many environments, from sedimentary rocks like limestone and marble to hydrothermal veins.
Calcite crystals are a form of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) known for their diverse shapes, transparency, and vibrant range of colors. They typically form in rhombohedral, scalenohedral, or prismatic shapes, often with well-defined, sharp edges and glossy surfaces. Calcite crystals are often translucent or transparent, sometimes displaying a double refraction effect where objects viewed through the crystal appear doubled. They can appear in various colors—white, clear, yellow, pink, blue, green, and orange—depending on impurities or trace minerals.
A notable characteristic of calcite is its reaction with weak acids like vinegar, which causes it to effervesce, or fizz, as it releases carbon dioxide. This property makes calcite crystals a key tool in geological identification and studies. Calcite forms in many environments, from sedimentary rocks like limestone and marble to hydrothermal veins.
