Wavellite

specimen number:
2312111

location:
Chala mine, Spahievo, Mineralni Bani, Haskovo, Bulgaria

description:
Neat locality example for the species with colorless botryoidal lustrous crystals of wavellite lining an open pocket with galena. In good condition.

The Chala Mine, located within the Spahievo ore field of the Mineralni Bani municipality in Haskovo Province, Bulgaria, is an epithermal gold-polymetallic deposit. Historically, the region has a long-standing mining tradition extending from ancient times through modern commercial and exploratory operations. Geologically, the deposit is hosted within a late Eocene to Oligocene volcanic complex of the Eastern Rhodopes, where low-temperature hydrothermal and metasomatic fluids altered the surrounding volcanic and sedimentary rocks. These hydrothermal solutions formed complex vein systems that precipitated quartz, base metal sulfides, and a diverse suite of secondary phosphate and sulfate minerals. The mine is well known among mineral collectors for producing crystal specimens featuring quartz, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and phosphate species like wavellite.

Questions about this specimen?
Send an email or call us: 314-341-1811.