Stibnite

$5,000.00

$40.00 shipping
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This excellent cabinet-sized display specimen of bright metallic silvery-grey Stibnite is from the world-famous Ichinokawa mine, immediately south of Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, on Shikoku Island, Japan. This locality is considered the best in the world for for the species, with the best specimens being found during the late 19th century. However, the mine dates back many centuries and is known to have supplied the antimony used in the bronze casting of the Great Buddha in 748 CE. The individual Stibnite crystal measures to 11.9 cm tall, and is bladed and deeply striated with an excellent termination. It shows a classic kink, a phenomena related to natural stress glide planes within the crystal structure while in development. It is said many fields in the vicinity of the mine were fenced using single Stibnite crystals as fence posts, so big was their size! Oh, if only we could travel back in time! Without doubt, a classic Stibnite crystal from Ichinokawa.