Barite with Siderite

specimen number:
2072114

location:
Turt Mine, Satu Mare, Romania

description:
Gemmy colorless crystals of bladed barite measuring to 2.0 cm in size across the top of a siderite matrix. Minimal damage present, this still in good condition. Brightly fluorescent under longwave ultraviolet light.

The Turt Mine is located in the Oas Mountains of the Satu Mare County in northwestern Romania, forming part of the Neogene volcanic arc of the Carpathian Mountains. Geologically, the deposit is an epithermal vein system hosted within andesitic and dacitic volcanic rocks that were erupted during the Miocene Epoch. These mineral-rich veins were formed by low-temperature hydrothermal fluids circulating through fractures and breccia zones, depositing a complex suite of base metal sulfides and silver minerals. Historically, the region has a long tradition of mining dating back to the medieval period, though industrial-scale operations at Turt specifically targeted lead, zinc, and silver throughout the 20th century. The mine was a significant part of the Romanian state mining industry until its closure in the early 2000s following the decline of large-scale metal extraction in the Oas-Gutai volcanic area.

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