large Stibnite

Item Description

This Chinese Stibnite is NOT from Wuning finds of 2003 and on, like some of the others available today, but from the somewhat older mining district at Lushi in Henan Province, and would have come out in the earliest Chinese minerals exports in the 1990s. The appearance of the crystals is different from modern material as well, not just the chunky thickness; and the gunmetal surface luster (like Romanian ones) some would prefer to the mirror-metallic look of the abundant ones from Wuning. This pair of fat crystals are both terminated and the smaller crystal crosses the larger one near its termination. The larger one measures over six inches in length and an inch and a half in width, the one at the top five inches in length. The larger crystal also has a couple of slight bends in it as some Stibnite crystals exhibit and both are heavily striated - also immediate signs that this is an old Lushi piece, not a modern specimen. This piece displays well from both sides and the crystals are beautifully arranged in relation to one another. There is some minor chatter on both crystals which these all had, both from the pocket and simply from handling minerals in the old days, but is irrelevant and trivial scratches compared to the impact of the big Stibnites. It is an impressive piece for sheer size and robustness. It is of the older style too, quite different than what you would obtain at a show today from any modern material. This is robust, impactful, and very much distinct. Valued $2500-3500.