Stibiconite (fine locality specimen)

Item Description

This is the only specimen of Stibiconite that we've ever had to offer from this locality, and it's quite an impressive specimen to boot. It should be noted that the actual species Stibiconite is now under some scrutiny, and while it hasn't been discredited, there is a possibility that it might fall into a few categorization in the future. Typically when you see Stibiconite from Bolivia, it has formed as an oxidation / pseudomorph after Stibnite, which is the case with this piece, as the thin prismatic crystals were once all Stibnite, and then altered into soft tan-yellow colored Stibiconite. The piece is loaded with dozens upon dozens of crystals, in a somewhat "jackstraw"-esque formation, with individual crystals measuring up to 2.3 cm, sitting on matrix. Many of the crystals are unfortunately contacted, but, it's still an impressive overall piece that would make a great addition to any Bolivian suite, or a collection of pseudomorphs, or just esoteric locality pieces. It should be noted that the label accompanying this piece lists the locality as the Churiña Mine, but it's actually the Chicheña Mine in Potosi. From the collection of Richard ("Rich") A. Kosnar (1946-2007), the well-known mineral dealer and mineral collector from Colorado, who was the namesake for the rare phosphate species Kosnarite. Rich was also the man responsible for bringing "The Great Phosphophyllite" into the US in 1977 (see https://www.mindat.org/photo-240201.html).