Stichtite

specimen number:
2133238

location:
Stichtite Hill, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

description:
Rich purple masses throughout matrix.

Stichtite Hill, located near the town of Dundas on the West Coast of Tasmania, Australia, is the world-renowned type locality for the mineral stichtite. Geologically, the site is characterized by an extensive body of serpentinite, where the stichtite forms as a rare secondary mineral through the hydrothermal alteration of chromite-bearing rocks. This mineral is a hydrated magnesium chromium carbonate, prized for its striking lilac-to-purple color and waxy luster, often occurring as fibrous or massive veins within a contrasting dark green serpentinite matrix. Historically, the deposit was discovered in 1910 by Robert Sticht, the manager of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, and the mineral was subsequently named in his honor. While the area has seen various small-scale mining efforts for ornamental stone and mineral specimens throughout the 20th century, it is not a site for large-scale industrial metal extraction. Today, Stichtite Hill remains a significant geological landmark and a protected area where collecting is regulated, continuing to provide researchers with insights into the geochemistry of chromium-rich metamorphic environments.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.