Rocksday

Stibnite

Antimony sulfide forming dramatic sword-like, striated metallic crystals.

Stibnite specimen
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to identify stibnite

  • Long, bladed, lead-gray crystals with lengthwise striations.
  • Crystals may bend or twist.
  • Very soft — a fingernail almost scratches it.

Often confused with

Where it's found

  • Xikuangshan, Hunan, China
  • Ichinokawa mine, Japan
  • Baia Sprie, Romania

Uses

Antimony for flame retardants and alloys.

Rock tumbling

Not suitable for tumbling.

Did you know?

Ground stibnite was used as kohl eyeliner in ancient Egypt.

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