Kermesite (classic material) (ex Conklin)

Item Description

This historic antimony mine in Slovakia has produced some of the most well known and classic Kermesite specimens in history. The species gets its name from the word "kermes", deriving from the Persian "qurmizq", for "crimson", as these crystals exhibit an intense red/crimson color under strong lighting. Even though the crystals may look metallic in reflected light, this is one of the few sulfides that actually shows color when backlit! This specimen hosts beautiful crystallized "sprays" of good quality, thin, prismatic, sharp, lustrous, metallic/translucent ?needles? on matrix. It is one of the better specimens of this well known material that I have offered in the auctions recently. Included are two labels from legendary New York mineral dealer, Larry Conklin, who valued the piece at $750 years ago!