2.3" Sphalerite, Quartz, Calcite & Chalcopyrite Association - Bulgaria

Sphalerite, Quartz, Calcite & Chalcopyrite Association - Bulgaria #41769

This specimen contains a beautiful aggregation of a variety of minerals. Calcite can be found in stalactite-like projection around much of the specimen, while mingling with quartz in others. Orange-red translucent sphalerite crystals cover what could be considered the top of the specimen, with chalcopyrite cubes presenting themselves sporadically throughout the aggregation.

The Madan ore fields are located in the Rhodope Mountains of southern Bulgaria, near its border with Greece. This long stretch of mountain range in southeastern Europe is home to a variety of incredible minerals: sulfides in particular show a great variety here. The sulfides pyrite and arsenopyrite, both mined consistently from the Rhodopes, sometimes also contain gold ore. However, they also typically contain relatively high amounts of cyanide. Because of this, these sulfides must undergo an additional cyanide extraction process before the gold can be extracted and used.

Other sulfides like galena, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite can be found throughout this mountain range in all shapes and sizes.

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