80mm Stilbite from Malmberget

$ 64.99

ID20649

Location:

Malmberget, Gällivare, Norrbotten, Sweden

https://www.mindat.org/loc-10629.html

Size: 33x80x52 mm (108,8 gr)

Description

Beautiful dark olive-green/brownish colored Stilbite.

This is an old specimen from my father's private collection. It was on display in the main collection. I normally don't sell specimens that were on display but decided to release this one as I got another in my private collection.

He bought it from his friends in northern Sweden, but I don't have the exact year it was found. The crystals are damage-free, except for a minor scar on top of one of the crystals. Gorgeous sample of Stilbite.

Location:

Malmberget has one of the largest underground mines for ore in the world and the second-largest in Sweden. The deepest point is 1390 meters below ground. Annual production is over 5 million tonnes of iron ore.

There is a big variety of crystals and minerals found in the mines:
https://www.mindat.org/loc-10629.html

Sometimes the miners hit pockets with crystals, but seldom they are collected as it would slow the work. Luckily there are workers who are trying to save/collect the most interesting stuff.

My father had friends in the mining companies in Sweden and traded minerals directly from them. Most of the stuff he got was back about 15-25 years ago. Much of this material is now long gone, and seldom seen on the market.