Valentinite, Antimony

Here is a rich, hefty miniature specimen of fine-grained, tin-white native antimony and stibnite from the historic Lac Nicolet Antimony Mine, Quebec, an obscure yet significant Canadian locality. This piece showcases not only a substantial mass of the native element but also a rich coverage of very pale-yellow valentinite microcrystals, a rare secondary oxide of antimony, scattered attractively across the surface.

The Lac Nicolet Mine dates back to the late 1860s and has been known by several names over the years, including “Ham Sud,” “South Ham,” and “Quebec Antimony Mine.” All refer to the same principal occurrence, located near the village of St-Martyrs-Canadiens in the Eastern Townships. Although largely forgotten today, this locality once played a key role in Canadian antimony production. This specimen represents both a striking mineralogical example and a tangible piece of Canada’s early mining history.