Kermesite (fine classic material)

Item Description

This historic antimony mine in Slovakia dates back to 1790, and has produced some of the most well known and classic Kermesite specimens in history. Kermesite is named after the word "kermes", deriving from the Persian qurmizq, for "crimson", as these crystals exhibit an intense red/crimson color under strong lighting. Even though the crystals may look metallic in reflected light, this is one of the few sulfides that actually shows color when backlit! This specimen hosts a beautiful crystallized "spray" of good quality, thin, prismatic, sharp, lustrous, metallic/gemmy "needles" on matrix. The largest individual crystal measures 1.6 cm long. It is one of the better specimens of this well known material that I have offered in the auctions recently. From the collection of Colin Manlove.