Stibnite, Ichinokawa Mine, Japan

Mineral Matters #352

This week’s Facebook Mineral of the Week Group’s selected theme is Japanese minerals.

Before the superb stibnite crystals from China hit the market a couple of decades ago, the stibnites from Japan were rated as amongst the best in the world.

The most famous stibnite specimens hail from the Ichinokawa Mine on Shikoku Island, Japan. This mine was operational from 1875 to 1900 and produced some of the world's most incredible stibnite crystals before it closed.

These stibnite crystals were known for their large size, reaching up to a metre in length and 15 centimetres in diameter. They were also known for their well-defined terminations and brilliant metallic lustre.

Unfortunately, the Ichinokawa Mine has been closed for over a century, and these iconic specimens are rarely seen on the market today. They are considered classics, and if you are lucky enough to find one, expect to pay a hefty price for a piece of mineral history.

Below: Stibnite, Ichinokawa Mine, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. South Australian Museum, Dunstan Collection. The specimen measures in the region of 110mm wide.