Galena with Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite

specimen number:
2062641

location:
Madan, Smolyon, Bulgaria

description:
A cluster featuring mirror bright lustrous metallic cubic crystals of galena to 3.5 cm on edge, this hosting golden crystals of semi lustrous chalcopyrite and small lustrous black crystals of sphalerite. Classic combination piece for this mining district, in super condition. The specimen comes with a previous collection label from the Ray DeMark.

Madan is a historic mining town located in the Smolyan Province of southern Bulgaria, nestled within the central Rhodope Mountains. Its rich history of extraction dates back to ancient times, with organized mining operations beginning around the 4th to 5th centuries BC under the Thracians. The settlement derived its modern name from the Arabic word madan, meaning mine, reflecting centuries of continuous exploitation for metallic ores. Geologically, the region is situated within a complex metamorphic complex consisting of gneisses, schists, and marbles. The area is globally renowned for its extensive Tertiary-age hydrothermal vein systems and skarn deposits, which formed through mineral-rich fluids circulating along major fault structures. These unique subsurface conditions created a prolific ore field containing a vast array of well-crystallized minerals, making Madan one of the most famous mineralogical localities in Europe.

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