Barite

specimen number:
2312562

location:
Androvo Mine, Erma Reka, Smolyon, Bulgaria

description:
A cluster of attractive blue lustrous somewhat translucent tabular barite crystals. Nice color, this is in very good condition.

The Androvo Mine, located near Erma Reka within the Smolyan Province of southern Bulgaria, is part of the broader Madan ore field in the central Rhodope Mountains. Geologically, the deposit is situated within a complex metamorphic complex consisting of gneisses, amphibolites, and marbles, featuring hydrothermal vein systems and replacement skarn-ore bodies formed during the Paleogene period. Mineralogically, the mine is known for producing lead-zinc ores alongside associated gangue and secondary minerals, including notable specimens of transparent tabular baryte and rare zinc-copper hydroxy-sulfate species. Historically, industrial underground mining and modernization efforts in the area expanded significantly under state and private operations through the late 20th and early 21st centuries to extract rich base metal reserves.

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