Stibnite Blades with Dolomite · 50 g

Description

An upright Stibnite cluster with a prominent elongated blade and smaller intergrown blades around its base. Metallic silver-grey faces and dark steel tones bring out the lengthwise grooves, with pale associated Dolomite providing a delicate contrast.

Its slender shape shows the columnar and bladed growth clearly. The reflective faces change as the viewing angle moves, revealing the layered crystals and pale mineral growth along parts of the cluster.

It is displayed upright on the clear bevelled glass base shown, which is included in the price.

The associated mineral is recorded as Dolomite in the supplied specimen information. This piece comes from my older batch of Stibnite from Qinglong Mine, Guizhou, China.

You will receive the exact specimen and glass base photographed. Colour may vary with lighting and screen settings.

The bladed growth described here gives the specimen a strong sense of direction. Overlapping elongated forms create layers and spaces through the group, while reflections emphasise individual edges. The overall arrangement is worth appreciating alongside the details of each exposed surface, particularly when comparing the piece with more compact crystal clusters.

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. Within a collection of Stibnite specimens, this locality gives the piece a geographical identity alongside its particular crystal habit and natural setting.

The specimen measures 68 × 35 × 20 mm, with a recorded weight of 50 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.