3.8" Lustrous Pyrite and Galena Crystals on Quartz - Mitrovica, Kosovo

This is a beautiful, 3.8" wide cluster of quartz crystals that are covered in sharp calcite crystals, metallic-grey galena, and pyrite. Small spherical aggregations of a carbonate mineral can be found scattered throughout the specimen. This material comes out of the Trepča mining complex in the Mitrovica District, Kosovo (likely the Trepča Stan Terg (mine)).

It comes with an acrylic display stand.

The Trepča Stari Trg mine, located in the Trepča complex, Trepča valley of the Mitrovica District, Kosovo, is the largest lead-zinc-silver mine in Europe and produces many fine mineral associations like this one. The mine's ore veins are hosted in Upper Triassic limestone that has been subjected to recrystallization. Minerals from this mine are quite stunning, formed via two stages of open-system and closed-system mineralization. The open-system stage formed a breccia that was injected with a high amount of outside mineral seepage. This process is responsible for most of the more attractive minerals to come out of the mine. These minerals include vivianite, pyrite, galena, sphalerite, hedenbergite, manganoan calcite, marcasite, arsenopyrite, and quartz.

Records of the mine's activity extend into the Middle Ages: it has been a large part of Kosovo's involvement in the mineral market to this day. The mine was temporarily shut down during the Kosovo war in the late 1980s, when equipment was destroyed and the mine was heavily flooded. Until the early 2000s the mine was inactive and the outflow of minerals ceased. Specimens from this mine are currently on the rarer side, though they should come back in full swing soon.
SOLD
DETAILS
SPECIES
Pyrite, Galena, Calcite & Quartz
LOCATION
Trepča Mining Complex, Trepča Valley, Mitrovica, Mitrovica District, Kosovo
SIZE
3.8 x 3.2"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#246310