STIBARSEN

STIBARSEN FIELD INFORMATION

Prospectors for minerals frequently use metal detectors
as an adjunct to traditional mineral exploration methods
such as field reconnaissance, rock chip and soil sampling.

Whilst exploring a parcel of country in the Palmer River area
carrying metal detectors at the time while navigating a small,
well incised gully one of the team obtained a metal detector signal.

What appeared to be a small thumb-sized rock was the culprit.  
Breaking this rock open revealed a silvery metallic interior.
At first it was thought to be some sort of slag from
historical explorers casting metal. However, more intense
scrutiny of the area resulted in many more nodules being found.
Returning home an XRF analysis  of a sample revealed
the material to be Native Antimony.

Attempts were made to locate the source of the nodules
and it was suspected that they formed at the nearby
interface between a mylonitic Granite and Amphibolite
of Meso Proterozoic age that subsequently underwent
siluro-devonian deformation and metamorphism.

Subsequent exploration of the surrounding area
uncovered sporadic nodules over a wide area.
Historical diggings were located about
700 Metres distance from the original find.

At his location a 5 kg piece of unknown metallic mineral was located
which after tests the material was identified as Stibarsen.

After extensive exploration the source was eventually located.
The Stibarsen is hosted in a vein breccia with the “outcrop”
flush with the ground surface. The exact locality is a secret.