Galena with Chalcopyrite, Sphalerite

specimen number:
2063449

location:
Madan, Smolyon, Bulgaria

description:
Bright lustrous metallic cubic crystals of galena to 1.2 cm on edge across the top of matrix with bright golden crystals of chalcopyrite and lustrous black sphalerite. From the early 1990s. In good condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Ray DeMark.

Located in the central Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria, the Madan ore field is a premier European metallogenic district hosted within complex metamorphic rocks like gneisses, amphibolites, and marbles. Its rugged terrain features extensive hydrothermal vein systems and skarn-related orebodies rich in lead, zinc, and associated sulfide minerals. Mining in the region dates back to antiquity, with organized extraction practiced by ancient Thracians and Romans before expanding into large-scale industrial underground operations during the twentieth century. Today, Madan is globally renowned among mineral collectors and museums for producing world-class, highly aesthetic mineral specimens, particularly exceptional galena, sphalerite, quartz, and various carbonate crystals recovered from active and historical mines.

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