STIBNITE. Lushi Mine, Lushi Co., Sanmenxia Prefecture, Henan Prov., China. ...

Description

STIBNITE
Lushi Mine, Lushi Co., Sanmenxia Prefecture, Henan Prov., China

China's explosive economic growth has resulted in a commensurate growth in mineral exploration and mining. The need for the semi-metal Antimony, which has a wide number of uses in modern industry, has resulted in a series of deposits being exploited. Some of these deposits have open caverns and fissures where perfect 'swords' of Stibnite (Antimony Sulfide) emerge from the walls. A fissure in the Lushi Mine was just such an occurrence. The miners at Lushi have learned that, when perfect specimens are encountered, they should preserve them in good condition, since they are worth more as specimens than as simple ore.

This shining group of Stibnite swords was one of those carefully collected and preserved by the miners. It is composed of approximately 15 "major" crystals and a whole host of smaller ones, radiating out from a common base. The major crystals are terminated and all of the Stibnites major and minor display the very finest of metallic luster that this mineral is capable of. There are a few broken crystals, none of them noticeable or important, which is understandable when you consider that in one of these fissures there is a veritable 'forest' of crystals growing out from the walls alongside, and interwoven with, each other. It is amazing that this extremely aesthetic was collected intact and that it has survived the journey across land and sea. Accompanied by a custom, labeled acrylic base, it is in excellent condition.
Overall Measurements: 9 x 10 x 4 inches (22.9 x 25.4 x 10.2 cm). Offered at no reserve.

Provenance: Keith Proctor [Hoppel Catalog # D2228]


[Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]

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