Annabergite

specimen number:
2102219

location:
Kamariza Mines, Lavrion, Attica, Greece

description:
Green platy crystals of annabergite to 0.3 cm in size throughout open pockets within this matrix.

Kamariza, situated within the historic Lavrion district of the Attica Peninsula in Greece, is one of the most famous ancient and modern mining sites in the Mediterranean. Geologically, the area is characterized by a complex series of contact-metamorphic (skarn) and carbonate-replacement deposits formed during the Miocene Epoch. These deposits occur at the contacts between marble layers and schist, or near granodiorite intrusions, resulting in a remarkable variety of secondary lead, zinc, and copper minerals. Historically, mining at Lavrion dates back to the 3rd millennium BC, with the silver extracted during the 5th century BC famously funding the Athenian fleet and the construction of the Parthenon. After centuries of dormancy, the Kamariza mines were revived in the mid-19th century by French and Greek companies to exploit lower-grade ores and ancient slag heaps. These modern operations, which produced lead, zinc, and silver, continued through the 20th century until the final closure of the mines in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Today, Kamariza is a world-class destination for mineral collectors, renowned for producing exceptional specimens of smithsonite, adamite, and annabergite.

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