Stibnite can form acicular crystals, which have a slender, needle-like shape. Clusters of acicular stibnite crystals can form bundles or “sprays” of many individual crystals radiating from a central point or can take on a more disordered form like leaning trees in a burnt forest. As far back as 3000BC, stibnite was used to make an eye cosmetic called kohl. Today stibnite is used in some pyrotechnics and safety matches. This specimen is part of the Robert R. Wiener Mineral Collection.
