Barite

specimen number:
1052578

location:
Baia Sprie, Maramures Co., Romania

description:
Colorless lustrous blocky tabular crystals of barite measuring to almost 3.0 cm in size across the top of matrix. In good condition. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video and dates to the very early 20th century.

Baia Sprie, historically known as Felsobanya, is a premier European mineral locality situated in the Maramures County of northern Romania. Geologically, the deposit is part of the Baia Mare mining district and consists of a complex system of epithermal veins hosted within Neogene volcanic rocks, primarily andesites and dacites. These veins were formed by hydrothermal activity that deposited a rich variety of minerals, including ores of gold, silver, lead, copper, and zinc, often resulting in spectacular crystallized specimens of barite, stibnite, and various sulfosalts. Historically, mining at Baia Sprie dates back to the Middle Ages, with written records of industrial activity appearing as early as the 14th century. The mines were heavily developed during the 18th and 19th centuries under the administration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, becoming a center for technological and mineralogical advancement. Large-scale industrial production continued throughout the 20th century under Romanian state control until economic shifts and the depletion of high-grade ore led to the official closure of the mines in 2006. Today, Baia Sprie remains one of the most significant localities in the world for mineral collectors, known for being the type locality for several species and for producing some of the most aesthetic mineral groups in Europe.

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