Galena with Calcite, Quartz

specimen number:
2312207

location:
Krushev dol Mine, Madan, Smolyan, Bulgaria

description:

Bright lustrous crystals of galena on matrix with rhombohedral crystals of calcite and needlelike crystals of quartz. In good condition. Attractive large combination piece.

The Krushev dol Mine, situated within the famous Madan ore field of the Rhodope Mountains in southern Bulgaria, has a long mining history that dates back to ancient times, with evidence of ore extraction starting as early as the 4th century BC. Modern industrial scale mining developed significantly during the 20th century to extract valuable metal resources. Geologically, the deposit is part of a complex hydrothermal vein and replacement system hosted within metamorphic and carbonate rocks of the Central Rhodope Dome. The interaction between mineralizing fluids and the carbonate host rocks created an ideal environment for producing rich polymetallic sulfide ores containing lead and zinc, alongside world-class mineral specimens including galena, sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite.

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