Cylindrite

specimen number:
2262004

location:
Maria Francisca Mine, Huanuni, Pantaleon Dalence, Oruro, Bolivia

description:
Type shaped metallic crystals of cylindrite throughout matrix. Very nice for the species.

Cylindrite is a fascinating and structurally unique sulfosalt mineral that is primarily known for its unusual habit of forming perfect, metallic cylinders or tubes. It belongs to a rare group of minerals that exhibit a naturally curved crystal structure, which occurs because of a mismatch between two different types of molecular layers that are forced to stack together. This internal stress causes the mineral to roll up into tight, concentric sheets similar to a roll of paper or a cigar. It typically displays a brilliant metallic luster with a lead-gray to black color and is quite soft, often occurring in hydrothermal tin-bearing veins. The most famous specimens in the world come from the high-altitude tin mines of Bolivia, where it is found associated with other complex minerals like franckeite. For collectors and scientists alike, cylindrite remains one of the most distinctive species in the mineral kingdom because it defies the standard expectation that crystals must have flat, planar faces.

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