Rare Stibnite Joins Arizona Gem and Mineral Museum
The specimen, donated by collector Robert Lavinsky, is now on view.

Its unveiling coincided with the annual Tucson gem and minerals shows, celebrated via a reception on Jan. 25 at the museum.
The specimen was extracted in 2003 from the Wuling Mine in the Jiangxi province in southeastern China and donated by Robert Lavinsky, a world-renowned mineral collector and science education advocate.
Stibnite is a compound of antimony and sulfur originating roughly 130 million years ago, the museum said, and visually, it appears opaque and metallic gray with long spear-like prismatic crystals.

The donated specimen is 39.5 inches long, 16.5 inches wide and 17 inches thick, which the museum said is exceptionally rare for its size, intricacy, and quality. Only a handful of such specimens exist in the world, all of which were extracted from the Wuling Mine in the early 2000s, according to appraisers.
Stibnite is brittle and soft, and it has a Mohs hardness scale—the measurement mineralogists use to grade the relative hardness of minerals—rating of 2 out of 10. Because of this, stibnite crystals are not often found intact.
The mineral’s history dates back centuries. As early as 3100 B.C., ancient Egyptians powdered stibnite to use as eyeshadow and to treat eye infections, the museum said, while in ancient Rome, stibnite was associated with Pluto, ruler of the underworld.
Later, the Prophet Muhammad claimed stibnite cleared one's vision and promoted hair growth.
By 1832, French mineralogist François Sulpice Beudant officially named the mineral "stibnite," derived from the Latin word "stibium," meaning antimony.
"The rare and intricate beauty and geological significance of this stibnite specimen serve as a powerful educational tool, fostering curiosity and exploration in the fields of geology, chemistry and natural history," said Violetta Wolf, director of the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum.

"I am incredibly thankful to Dr. Lavinsky," said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins.
"His generous donation of the incredible stibnite piece places the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum at the forefront of global mineral exhibits and boosts the museum's ability to provide a unique opportunity for individuals of all ages to engage with the history and importance of minerals."
Along with being a longtime supporter of the University of Arizona, Lavinsky is the owner, founder and president of The Arkenstone, an online purveyor of minerals, and of the Dallas Mineral Collecting Symposium.
He is also a mineral dealer, collector and consultant who works with museums and private collectors around the world.
Lavinsky has been actively involved in mineral education and has made significant donations to various institutions, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, museums in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, California, and numerous museums in China.
In recognition of Lavinsky's contributions to the field, a rare copper mineral from South Africa is named "lavinskyite" in his honor.
Lavinsky has also donated a stibnite to the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University.
"Both Yale and the University of Arizona share my vision of a 'beauty first' approach to education, displaying valuable specimens of minerals as inspirational works of natural art," Lavinsky said.
"As a lifelong collector, it is an honor to make this joint donation to two such worthy museums and to share the inspiration and awe that these specimens evoke in me."
John-Paul Roczniak, president and CEO of the University of Arizona Foundation, said the donation was “an incredible addition” to the museum’s mineral collection.
"Thank you to Dr. Lavinsky and others who have made significant gifts to the museum's collection. The Alfie is a treasure of a facility, and an incredible point of pride for the university and Tucson community," Roczniak said.
The Latest

The independent jeweler first opened its doors in 1888.

The layoffs come amid the TV shopping channel’s efforts to restructure and focus on live shopping through social media.

The debut event will take place in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood this fall.

Bench jewelers spend years honing their skills, Jewelers of America’s Certification validates their talents.

The roundtable will take place May 17 ahead of the trade show’s welcome dinner.


The “Peanuts x Monica Rich Kosann” collection features the comic strip’s classic vocabulary across 10 bracelet designs.

Three industry experts dive into the complexities of the material often marketed as an “ethical” alternative for metal in jewelry.

Natural diamonds mean more than lab-grown, but when every cut is ideal, they all look the same. Customers want more—Facets of Fire delivers.

Diamonds are not only one of the most prominent gemstones, but the birthstone for those born in April.

The Utah-based company known for making wedding bands has acquired Doubloon Golf.

The longtime luxury executive led one of LVMH’s watch brands, TAG Heuer, for 12 years before taking over Bulgari in 2013.

Authorities said the robbers fled with jewelry and 70 Rolex watches, later taking pictures of themselves posing with big stacks of cash.

The ring's design features contrasting lines influenced by work from architecture-inspired photographer Nikola Olic.

The Conference Board’s index fell as consumers continued to worry about the impact of tariffs, the labor market, and the price of eggs.

However, two medieval jewels surpassed estimates at Noonans Mayfair’s recent jewelry auction in London.

The Oscar-nominated actor debuted in the campaign for the new “Top Time B31” collection, which introduced Breitling’s Caliber B31.

The family-owned retailer is the new owner of Morrison Smith Jewelers in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The “150 Art Deco” collection features a Miss America timepiece and a pocket watch from the brand’s Archive Series.

Alex Wellen, formerly CEO and president of MotorTrend Group, has taken on the role.

The Impact Initiative is part of the nonprofit association’s new three-year strategic plan.

The ruby and the sapphire, which Christie’s calls a “once-in-a-generation masterpiece,” are part of the upcoming Hong Kong jewelry auction.

The two pairs of earrings, snatched from a Tiffany & Co. store in Orlando, Florida, are valued at a combined $769,500.

The time to start experimenting with video content is now, writes columnist Emmanuel Raheb.

From striking high jewelry to miniature fine jewelry, the new chapter continues to highlight gemstones featuring its signature 57-facet cut.

The jewelry giant is reducing its senior leadership by 30 percent as part of its new turnaround strategy.

The auction house's partnership with online watch servicing platform WatchCheck makes repairs convenient and accessible, it said.

The company also noted record sales in the United States and a strong performance in its jewelry category.