Calcite

specimen number:
8311281

location:
Stribro, Plzen, Czech Republic

description:
Colorless spiky crystals of calcite measuring to 3.5 cm in height covering the top of matrix. A very good locality example for the species. In good condition.

Stribro, historically known by the German name Mies, is one of the oldest and most significant silver and lead mining districts in the Czech Republic. Geologically, the area is characterized by a dense system of hydrothermal veins hosted within Neoproterozoic phyllites and metamorphic rocks of the Tepla-Barrandian unit. These veins primarily consist of quartz, barite, and calcite, which carry rich ores of galena and sphalerite, often producing exceptional specimens of crystallized cerussite and pyromorphite in the oxidation zones. Historically, mining activity in Stribro dates back to the 12th century, with the town receiving its mining rights as early as 1199. The district saw its greatest prosperity during the 14th and 16th centuries, becoming a vital source of wealth for the Bohemian crown. After periods of decline and intermittent operation, modern mining efforts focused on lead and zinc during the 20th century. The final mining operations in the district were officially terminated in 1994, marking the end of over 800 years of active production, though the town remains a preserved monument to European mining heritage.

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