Stibnite

specimen number:
2072075

location:
Herja Mine, Maramures Co., Romania

description:
A loose cluster of bright lustrous metallic stibnite crystals. From the 1990s, in great condition for one of these. There are no points of attachment.

The Herja Mine is located near Baia Mare in the Maramures County of northern Romania, situated within the Neogene volcanic arc of the Carpathian Mountains. Geologically, the deposit is a complex hydrothermal vein system hosted in Pliocene-aged volcanic rocks and surrounding sedimentary strata. The mineralization occurred as metal-rich fluids circulated through fractures and breccia zones associated with ancient volcanic activity. Historically, the mine was an important producer of lead, zinc, and silver for several centuries, with industrial operations peaking during the 20th century before its eventual closure in the early 2000s. Herja is world-famous among mineralogists for its exceptional stibnite specimens, which often form as intricate, radiating clusters of metallic gray, needle-like crystals. These stibnite crystals are frequently found in aesthetic association with white calcite, siderite, or sparkling quartz. A unique feature of the Herja stibnites is the presence of curved or bent crystal habits, which are thought to result from tectonic movements or mechanical stress during the growth process. Despite the cessation of large-scale mining, the locality remains a classic European source for high-quality antimony sulfide specimens.

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