Stolzite

Although Stolzite is a relatively rare mineral it is well known from several famous localities worldwide, yet this little known mine in France has produced some of the very best specimens ever found for the species. From the Sainte-Lucie mine at St Léger-de-Peyre in Occitanie, this small silver-lead mine was closed in 1936, but the adits were revisited in the 1990s in the search for specimens. It was during this period wonderful Stolzite crystals were found. This amazing single crystal is free from matrix and measures an astounding 4.8 x 3.0 x 1.1 cm, as measured along each axis. Opposite prism faces are coated with a thin layer of gritty opaque pinkish tan Stolzite, sandwiching between them a glassy translucent crystal of pale butterscotch-yellow. A superb specimen from this fascinating mine.