An exceptionally high-contrast and crystal-rich mineral specimen from the famous Madan ore district in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria.
This specimen combines dark, metallic-lustrous ore minerals with intensely brass-gold sulfides and several free-standing rock crystals. Particularly striking is the large, slender quartz crystal in the center of the specimen, which rises significantly above the rest of the mineralization and gives the piece a distinctly three-dimensional structure.
Numerous gold-colored, metallic-lustrous crystals and aggregates are distributed across almost the entire specimen. Interspersed are dark gray to nearly black, highly lustrous crystals of sphalerite, as well as other typical ore minerals of the Madan district.
A special highlight are the numerous rock crystals. In addition to several smaller, clear to slightly milky crystals, the specimen features several much larger and free-standing quartz crystals with well-defined crystal terminations. The largest crystal forms a striking focal point and, together with the metallic minerals, creates an exceptionally strong contrast.
The specimen displays an enormous variety of crystal forms and colors on a relatively compact base: silvery-gray and dark ore minerals, intense gold-colored metallic luster, and light to transparent quartz crystals.
On the old collector's label, the specimen is described as a combination of chalcopyrite, galena, and rock crystal. The gold-colored sulfides may include pyrite and/or chalcopyrite; a definitive identification of all small gold-colored crystals based on macroscopic features is not possible.
Locality:
Madan ore district, Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria
Minerals:
Rock crystal / Quartz
Sphalerite
Galena
Pyrite and/or Chalcopyrite
Weight:
276 g
Size:
approx. 100 × 45 × 55 mm
Features:
• multiple free-standing rock crystals
• large central quartz crystal
• strongly gold-colored metallic-lustrous sulfide mineralization
• dark, lustrous sphalerite
• highly contrasting ore-quartz combination
• pronounced three-dimensional crystal structure
• classic locality: Madan, Bulgaria
An extremely decorative and mineralogically diverse collector's specimen, which stands out particularly due to the combination of free-standing rock crystals with gold-colored and dark ore minerals.
You will receive exactly the unique piece shown.
