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Quartz-Stibnite Vein - minShelf
Quartz-Stibnite Vein
J
@jcg

Jcg·19 Jun 2026

Quartz-Stibnite Vein

AI-suggested ID

North Ostrobothnia, Finland

The collector guessed quartz-arsenopyrite with gold, but the dull, sooty grey patchy appearance without bright silver-white metallic faces leans more toward stibnite, galena, or molybdenite. Arsenopyrite typically shows tin-white to steel-grey metallic sheen with distinct prismatic crystals. A streak test on the grey mineral is the quickest field check — arsenopyrite gives black, galena gives grey, stibnite gives grey-black.

oreOrogenic gold

Formation

Hydrothermal quartz vein with sulphide minerals precipitated from ascending metal-bearing fluids, typically in low-to-medium temperature epithermal or mesothermal vein systems.

Geological origin

Various; classic Sb-Au deposits at Xikuangshan, Hunan, China

Properties

color

grey and white

grade

Unknown — visual assessment only

gangue

White quartz

commodity

Antimony (Sb) or Lead (Pb); possible gold association

host rock

Quartz vein

alteration

None

Where else to find

Felbertal, Austria (stibnite)Baia Sprie, RomaniaCoeur d'Alene district, Idaho, USA (galena/silver veins)Broken Hill, New South Wales, AustraliaPribram, Czech Republic

Suggested tests

  • • Streak the grey metallic mineral on unglazed porcelain — arsenopyrite gives black/dark grey, galena gives grey, stibnite gives grey-black
  • • Check specific gravity: galena is very heavy (~7.6), arsenopyrite moderate (~6.1), stibnite lighter (~4.6)
  • • Smell the specimen after scratching — arsenopyrite gives a faint garlic odour (arsenic), stibnite does not
  • • Use a hand lens to look for prismatic striated crystals (arsenopyrite) vs. flat platy cleavage faces (stibnite/galena)

Could also be

Quartz-Arsenopyrite Vein - Collector's suggestion; arsenopyrite (FeAsS) can appear as dark metallic blades/masses in quartz, similar to what is visible here. However, arsenopyrite typically shows brighter silver-white metallic lustre and more distinct prismatic crystals than the dull, sooty grey patches seen here.
Quartz-Galena Vein - Galena also appears as dull to submetallic grey masses in white quartz veins and is very common. The sooty grey, somewhat platy/cleavable patches are consistent with galena, which is a very common look-alike in this type of specimen.
Quartz-Molybdenite Vein - Molybdenite forms thin, sooty grey metallic flakes/smears in quartz veins, producing a patchy grey-on-white appearance very similar to this specimen.
stibnite-primary-oregalena-primary-ore-larsenopyrite-indicatquartz-gangue-silica
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