Stacked, dark gray crystals of native lead, to 2 cm in length, form a stalactite-like vertical cluster that gives this piece a nice size and aesthetic impact for a normally gray and matrix-heavy species. This is a very fine, important specimen of crystallized NATIVE lead, which does not for some reason readily crystallize in nature. Often, even when it does, the crystals are too lumpy for collectors. Such collector-quality specimens are known best from the classic old locality of Langban (and from old collections, as did this one). It is extremely uncommon to get a specimen with any sense of aesthetics, though. They just usually tend to be lumpy masses of unappealing gray rock, with only a few exceptions - and those usually already in noted museums. This one is about as elegant as you can expect from a native lead, displays nicely for what it is. I had this once a decade ago, and am proud to have it back recently to find it another home. There have been few of this caliber on the market, in the meantime. Ex Dr. Wouter van Tichelen collection.