Quartz with Sphalerite, Chalcopyrite

specimen number:
2312160

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

description:

Large glassy and gemmy crystals of quartz across the top of a chalcopyrite and sphalerite crystal matrix. In good condition.

The Boldut Mine, situated within the Cavnic mining district of Maramures County, Romania, is a historic underground operation centered on the extraction of complex base and precious metal ores. Historically, mining in the surrounding Cavnic area dates back centuries, with intensive industrial exploitation expanding significantly during the modern era to recover substantial reserves of lead, zinc, copper, gold, and silver. Geologically, the deposit is part of the Neogene volcanic belt of the Inner Carpathians, where hydrothermal activity associated with calc-alkaline magmatism emplaced rich polymetallic veins into volcanic and sedimentary host rocks. The underground workings of the Boldut Mine became internationally famous among mineral collectors for yielding diverse crystallized specimens, including quartz, dolomite, rhodochrosite, and calcite associated with sulfide minerals such as sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and marcasite.

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