Barite

specimen number:
1052854

location:
Baia Sprie, Maramures Co., Romania

description:
Thick tabular lustrous mostly gemmy crystals of barite measuring to 3.5 cm in size on matrix. Some damage present, still quite nice. 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 by its Hungarian name Felsobanya, is located in the Maramures region of northern Romania. Geologically, the area is situated within the Gutai Volcanic Zone of the East Carpathians, which formed as a result of intense Neogene volcanic and tectonic activity. This volcanic activity produced complex, polymetallic hydrothermal vein systems rich in lead, zinc, copper, gold, and silver. Historically, mining in Baia Sprie dates back to at least the fourteenth century, with the town first officially documented in 1329 under the Latin name Mons Medius, meaning Middle Mountain. The mines on Mine Hill were highly productive throughout the medieval, Renaissance, and Habsburg eras, evolving from early manual extraction to heavily modernized operations in the twentieth century. Following a decline in production, all active mining operations in Baia Sprie were permanently closed in 2007.

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