Chalcopyrite with Calcite, Quartz

specimen number:
2312491

location:
Boldut Mine, Cavnic, Maramures Co., Romania

description:
Bright lustrous golden crystals of chalcopyrite in a cluster 2.5 cm across set attractively up on matrix with glistening crystallized quartz and thin platy calcite.

The Boldut Mine, located within the Cavnic mining district of Maramures County, Romania, is part of a historic mining region with roots dating back to medieval times and earlier, while intensive industrial extraction of its polymetallic ores operated heavily through the 20th century until final closure around 2005. Geologically, the deposit sits within the Neogene volcanic belt of the Inner Carpathians, where hydrothermal activity driven by calc-alkaline magmatism emplaced rich veins of lead, zinc, copper, gold, and silver into volcanic and sedimentary host rocks. The underground workings became internationally renowned among mineral collectors for producing diverse sulfide and carbonate assemblages, including quartz, dolomite, rhodochrosite, calcite, sphalerite, and galena.

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