Stibnite

specimen number:
2072340

location:
Xikuangshan, Lengshuijiang Co., Loudi, Hunan, China

description:
A single lustrous sharp terminated crystal of stibnite. Some damage present as seen, this still better than most.

The Xikuangshan mine, located in the Lengshuijiang County of Hunan Province, China, is renowned as the largest antimony deposit in the world and is often referred to as the Antimony Capital. Geologically, the deposit is a massive stratabound ore body hosted within Upper Devonian limestone and shale, where mineral-rich fluids formed extensive replacement zones and vein systems. The locality is world-famous for producing the finest known stibnite specimens, characterized by exceptionally large, lustrous, and metallic silver-gray crystals that can reach lengths of over 60 centimeters. Historically, mining and quarrying activities at Xikuangshan date back to the early 16th century, though the true nature of the antimony ore was not fully understood until the late 19th century. Industrial-scale production began in earnest around 1897, and the district has seen continuous large-scale operation through the 20th and 21st centuries. As of 2026, Xikuangshan remains a vital global center for antimony production and a premier source for the high-quality stibnite crystals that define the standard for the species in mineralogical collections.

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