Stephanite (old classic)

Item Description

Rich and classic small cabinet stephanite from the historic Freiberg District, the Type Locality. Bright silver-metallic prismatic stephanite crystals and crystal sections, to a good sized 2.5 cm, are attractively intergrown on the matrix plate. Stephanite, silver-antimony sulfosalt is named after Austrian Mining Director, engineer and life-long mineral collector, Archduke Stephan Franz Victor von Habsburg-Lothringen (1817-1867). Freiberg is one of Germany's great silver mining district, where mining started in the 12th century and the last mine closed in 1969. The back is richly covered with stephanite crystal sections as a bonus. Undoubtedly old-time material, but no proof. Ex Shields Flynn Collection. Classic desirable material.