Dyscrasite

Dyscrasite is a rare silver antimonide, an alloy of silver and antimony, and in this beautiful miniature forms an open, intergrown array of slender acicular crystals of metallic silver-grey. From Uranium Mine No. 21, Háje, in the Príbram mining district in the Czech Republic, it forms crystals typically of 2 to 2.5 cm long, sometimes with a golden-bronze to pale lilac-mauve patina. Because there is no supporting matrix the specimen appears fragile, yet is surprisingly robust. It obviously requires great care whilst handling because of the delicacy of the fine crystals, but provided such practice is maintained, it will not in any way be friable.\n