This is the most aesthetic stephanite I have ever gotten from Mexico. It is a thick pseudohexagonal plate perched at the top of a subhedral acanthite. While stephanite does NOT form hexagonal crystals, it frequently twins in such a way as to resemble a hexagonal crystal. The twinning lines are easily seen on both the front and back of this flawless crystal. People often ask me how I can tell a stephanite form acanthite or pyrargyrite. These twin planes are a dead giveaway. Also, stephanite crystals are frequently much more lustrous than acanthite, which tends to form blocky crystals. Any time I see a bright shiny crystal perched on duller acanthite, I immediately suspect stephanite.<BR><BR>

For me, it can be harder to visually distinguish between stephanite and polybasite crystals. Usually polybasite forms thin \"mica-like\" plates. Despite the tabular nature of this specimen, stephanite usually forms barrel shaped crystals.<BR><BR>
This pieces is undamaged and measures2.8 x 2.8 x 1.8 cm. The stephanite is about 1 cm across. Killer.