STEPHANITE with BARYTE

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

Well crystallised Stephanite nestle in a vug within a massive matrix of pink and white Baryte from the Barbara adit in Anna mine in Příbram District, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic. The Anna mine first began as far back as 1789 and was only the second mine in the Březohorské district. Twenty three mineral species are recorded from here, amongst which is the rare silver antimony sulphosalt, Stephanite, named for the Archduke of Austria, Stephan Franz Victor of Habsburg-Lorena (1817–1867). Silvery-black metallic Stephanite crystals, displaying several faces, have developed in the vug whereas anhedral grains are distributed through the Baryte. The specimen is accompanied by an old, beautifully handwritten label.