Detailed information
Species
Langbeinite
Dimensions
25 x 46 x 30
mm
Weight
40 g
Locality
Långban Filipstad, Värmland Sweden
Condition
No recorded repairs
Långbanite is a rare double manganese antimony silicate and this nicely crystallised miniature is from it type locality at Långban mine in the Långban Ore District in Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden. Långban was operational between 1711 and 1972, but records of mining activity do date back to the 1400s. Långban is one of the rare ore deposits in the world where a huge number of mineral species have been formed, in this case an impressive 316 species for which Långban is type locality to no less than 77, putting it right up there amongst the likes of Tsumeb, Franklin, Mont Saint Hilaire and the Kola Peninsula, granted the latter covers a vast area. Several well developed trigonal Långbanite crystals protrude from a granular brick red matrix, for which I cannot attempt name the rock type. The Långbanite is opaque silver-grey with a granular texture and bright metallic lustre. Although the mine tips cover enormous areas at Långban, good specimen are few and far between, as many a collector can testify. This is a lovely example from it type locality that will make a great addition to a systematic or topographic collection.