One natural mineral specimen
Stibnite Blades with Dolomite · 337 g
Qinglong Mine, Guizhou, China
£250
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Description
A broad, angular cluster of metallic Stibnite blades, with a prominent rising spray above crossing columns. Silver-grey reflections pick out the crystal faces against dark steel tones and small pale areas of the supplied Dolomite association.
Intergrown blades spread in several directions, forming a layered display face with open recesses. Lengthwise grooves and reflective faces give the cluster varied texture as the viewing angle changes.
The associated mineral is recorded as Dolomite in the supplied specimen information. This piece is from the same Qinglong Mine batch as the other Stibnite specimens in the collection.
I have shown the exact specimen from five angles. You will receive the mineral photographed. Colour and reflections vary with lighting and screen settings.
The crossing arrangement described above is an important part of the specimen’s silhouette. It lets the direction of individual crystals be followed through the group, with open spaces making their outlines more apparent. Intersecting crystals alone do not establish a specific twin law; here the description concerns the visible arrangement rather than a laboratory-confirmed crystallographic relationship.
The recorded Dolomite adds a carbonate association to the specimen. Its contrasting surface character helps separate the featured growth from the material around it. This relationship gives the piece another point of interest beyond the principal crystals: it can be appreciated both for the main mineral’s habit and for the way the minerals are arranged together.
Stibnite is antimony sulphide, a metallic mineral often associated with elongated crystals. It forms in hydrothermal veins, where mineral-bearing fluids deposit material as conditions change. Its lead-grey to silver-grey appearance and long crystal habit make it quite different in character from the compact shapes of many other metallic minerals.
Collectors value the arrangement of the blades as much as their shine. Parallel growth, crossing crystals and radiating groups create different silhouettes, while lengthwise surface detail can emphasise the direction of growth. Stibnite is relatively soft and its projecting crystals deserve careful handling. Support the stable part of the specimen when moving it rather than lifting it by a blade.
The recorded origin is Qinglong Mine, Guizhou, China. The locality and mineral associations follow the information supplied with this specimen. Its individual growth and matrix provide the visual details described here.
The specimen measures 105 × 70 × 40 mm, with a recorded weight of 337 g. The proportions give a useful guide to its place in a display, with the individual crystal arrangement and mineral association remaining the principal points of interest.
Support the stable part of the specimen rather than an elongated blade. Stibnite is relatively soft, and projecting metallic growth can be damaged by pressure. A secure display lets the blade arrangement and surface detail be appreciated with minimal handling.