Detailed information
Dimensions
42 x 56 x 40
mm
Weight
116 g
Locality
Příbram District Central Bohemian Region Czech Republic
Condition
No recorded repairs
Admittedly pretty ugly, this Czech Stibarsen specimen has a great historical label accompanying it which shows how the renaming of species can sometimes lead to early discoveries being forgotten. Stibarsen is a natural alloy of arsenic and antimony which was described in the early 20th century from Varuträsk, Skellefteå, Västerbotten County, Sweden. However, the old label accompanying this specimen clearly shows that it was in Berlin Museum in 1883, a full half-century before Stibarsen was named and Sweden given the Type Locality. That is because the original label records this specimen as Allemontite, a natural alloy of arsenic and antimony of variable composition, but Allemontite is now considered to be Stibarsen. Confusing, well yes it is, but spare a thought for the town of Allemont in France where this material was known from 1772, but who were not given Type Locality status either. This lovely historic specimen from the famous Příbram District is from the superb systematic collection assembled by the brothers Martin and Michael Günther (1951-2007 & 1956-2021).
