Antimony (Native)
Antimony (Native) is native element (semi-metal), Sb. In the hand, it rates 3 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale, and it runs tin white and silver-gray. Tin-white brittle metal of serious heft that cleaves into stepped mirror plates rather than denting like true metals. Hydrothermal veins; notable: Sala (Sweden), Kremnica (Slovakia), New Brunswick (Canada), China.
The geology.
Antimony (Native) carries the formula Sb. It belongs to the trigonal system. It is classified as native element (semi-metal).
It sits at 3 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads metallic, bright on fresh surfaces. Light behaviour is opaque. Specific gravity runs 6.6 to 6.7. The streak is gray. It breaks with perfect basal cleavage; brittle.
Tin-white brittle metal of serious heft that cleaves into stepped mirror plates rather than denting like true metals.
You will most often meet it as massive cleavable lumps, botryoidal masses or rare crystals.
The origins.
Hydrothermal veins; notable: Sala (Sweden), Kremnica (Slovakia), New Brunswick (Canada), China.
On value, the database notes: collector specimen; uncommon in shops.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, antimony has little established crystal lore; alchemists historically gave the metal transformative symbolism.
People buy on this language, so it belongs on the page. It belongs under the facts, though, not over them.
Spotting the real thing.
Tin-white brittle metal of serious heft that cleaves into stepped mirror plates rather than denting like true metals.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Stibnite | The sulfide cousin forms bladed crystals and is softer (Mohs 2); native antimony is blockier and cleavable |
| Arsenic (native) | Native arsenic is darker gray-black and tarnishes faster |
| Silver | Silver is malleable and dents; antimony shatters |
At-home tests.
You can run every one of these at a kitchen table. Good light matters more than gear when you are looking at antimony (native).
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Brittle, chips rather than dents |
| By eye | Very heavy (SG ~6.6) |
| By eye | Bright basal cleavage steps |
Anything that scratches, burns or dissolves the piece is a lab job. Get it appraised rather than testing it apart.
Care & handling.
At 3 to 3.5 on the Mohs scale this is a soft material. Keep it as a display piece, store it apart from harder stones, and skip daily-wear settings.
It breaks with perfect basal cleavage; brittle, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Warm water and a soft cloth clean almost everything. Ultrasonic tanks, steamers and household cleaners are where pieces get ruined.
Antimony is toxic if ingested or inhaled as dust, handle specimens normally, wash hands, and never grind them.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is Sb. Crystal system: Trigonal. Specific gravity: 6.6 to 6.7. Streak: Gray. Cleavage and fracture: Perfect basal cleavage; brittle.
How it reaches the market
Hydrothermal veins; notable: Sala (Sweden), Kremnica (Slovakia), New Brunswick (Canada), China.
What it gets confused with
Stibnite: The sulfide cousin forms bladed crystals and is softer (Mohs 2); native antimony is blockier and cleavable. Arsenic (native): Native arsenic is darker gray-black and tarnishes faster. Silver: Silver is malleable and dents; antimony shatters.
What it is worth
Collector specimen; uncommon in shops.
One more thing
Antimony's symbol Sb comes from 'stibium', the Latin name for the kohl eyeliner made from its sulfide for millennia.
An education-first guide.
No product links here. We do not sell antimony (native), and a guide that only covers our own shelves would not be much of a guide.
Explore the Crystal Guide