Valentinite

©

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Valentinite
Sb₂O₃ orthorhombic
Here will go a general description of Valentinite specimens.


Valentinite
Luxembourg
Goesdorf commune, Goesdorf, Antimony mine

Valentinite FOV 0,2cm	© JDehove

Old Sb mine, started in the 14th century (or even Roman times), closed in 1938 (1944 according to Filella et al., 2009).
Located 1 km east of the Village of Goesdorf on a hill called Weissenstein ('white stone').
Since June 2006 an excavation is underway at Goesdorf as part of an archaeological-mineralogical project of the National Natural History Museum of Luxembourg, it is not allowed to look for minerals there any more.


Valentinite
Canada
Newfoundland, Glenwood, Beverbrook Mine

“The valentinite crystals were all micros about 2-3mm. They occurred in vugs of quartz, also micro crystals. The biggest vug was about 2-3 cm. No other minerals as far as I can remember were associated with it. Not much was collected despite the fact there were about 25 collectors at the site. I think the problem was we were unaware of where to find the specimens. We concentrated on the massive stibnite in hope of finding crystals of that mineral. …As far as the amount of valentinite that was collected, maybe 1/5 if a flat. Not much but I suspect that it is more abundant than that but not necessarily common.₁ All the material was collected from surface outcrops. The Beverbrook mine was a modern, efficient mine operated for about six months before cheap antimony from China caused it to close. It was a very rich mine and the mining encountered masses of stibnite forty feet thick according to Erich. Crystals of stibnite were found but apparently none were save. At some time in the future this mine will certainly produce some interesting specimens.
1. Erich Grundel, Arlington Virginia, personal communication 2003.
[Rock Currier 10 November 2008]



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Edited 7 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2013 01:50PM by Rock Currier.