Provenite

Cavnic

AreaDraft data

47.6608° N, 23.8778° E · ± 10 km

Amethyst, Chalcopyrite, Dolomite, Marcasite, Pyrite and Rhodochrosite from Maramures County, Romania, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

AmethystChalcopyriteDolomiteMarcasitePyriteRhodochrosite

On the same specimen

Same specimen Amethyst growing on Pyrite

A large Cavnic specimen carries pastel purple, lightly frosted amethyst clusters to about 5 cm on a plate covered with brass-yellow striated pyrite crystals.

Amethyst of this size is described as rare from the Cavnic mines, and the golden pyrite base adds contrast.

Sources: SRC-160 SRC-161

Same specimen Amethyst growing on Chalcopyrite

On the same type of Cavnic plate, iridescent brassy chalcopyrite crystals occur on the matrix together with the pyrite, and the amethyst clusters rise from this sulfide-covered matrix.

The iridescent chalcopyrite adds a second metallic colour beneath the purple quartz.

Sources: SRC-160 SRC-161

Same specimen Quartz with Marcasite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show marcasite with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Quartz with Chalcopyrite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show chalcopyrite with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Sphalerite with Chalcopyrite

2 specimen photo(s) from this locality show chalcopyrite with sphalerite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Calcite with Chalcopyrite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show chalcopyrite with calcite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Galena with Chalcopyrite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show chalcopyrite with galena together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Dolomite with Chalcopyrite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show chalcopyrite with dolomite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Quartz with Rhodochrosite

3 specimen photo(s) from this locality show rhodochrosite with quartz together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Same specimen Calcite with Rhodochrosite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show rhodochrosite with calcite together. The pairing comes from the photographer's file name and label, so the relationship between the two minerals is not specified.

Amethyst at Cavnic

Formula
SiO₂

Sources: SRC-160 SRC-161

About Amethyst →

Chalcopyrite at Cavnic

Mirror-bright, brass-yellow twinned chalcopyrite crystals with quartz and dolomite.
Mirror-bright, brass-yellow twinned chalcopyrite crystals with quartz and dolomite.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Lustrous pyramidal chalcopyrite crystals with sphalerite and calcite.
Lustrous pyramidal chalcopyrite crystals with sphalerite and calcite.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Combination specimen of chalcopyrite, galena with rounded faces, and sphalerite.
Combination specimen of chalcopyrite, galena with rounded faces, and sphalerite.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
CuFeS₂

Sources: SRC-160 SRC-161

About Chalcopyrite →

Dolomite at Cavnic

Dolomite that has completely replaced an elongated stibnite crystal, keeping its shape.
Dolomite that has completely replaced an elongated stibnite crystal, keeping its shape.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
CaMg(CO₃)₂
Morphology
Pseudomorphs after prismatic stibnite crystals
Typical size
Up to about 11 cm long

Sources: SRC-521

About Dolomite →

Marcasite at Cavnic

A large ball of golden marcasite resting on a bed of quartz crystals from Cavnic.
A large ball of golden marcasite resting on a bed of quartz crystals from Cavnic.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
FeS₂
Morphology
Large spherical aggregate (ball) on quartz
Color / luster
Golden and sparkling
Associated minerals
Quartz

Sources: SRC-323 SRC-329

About Marcasite →

Pyrite at Cavnic

Formula
FeS₂

Sources: SRC-160 SRC-161

About Pyrite →

Rhodochrosite at Cavnic

A cluster of bright pink translucent bladed rhodochrosite crystals on massive rhodochrosite, Cavnic.
A cluster of bright pink translucent bladed rhodochrosite crystals on massive rhodochrosite, Cavnic.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A thick crust of light salmon-pink botryoidal rhodochrosite on quartz and sulfides, Cavnic.
A thick crust of light salmon-pink botryoidal rhodochrosite on quartz and sulfides, Cavnic.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Milky quartz crystals overgrown by small sparkly pastel-pink rhodochrosite crystals, Cavnic.
Milky quartz crystals overgrown by small sparkly pastel-pink rhodochrosite crystals, Cavnic.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
A crust of pink platy rhodochrosite crystals in flower-like groups on drusy white quartz, Cavnic.
A crust of pink platy rhodochrosite crystals in flower-like groups on drusy white quartz, Cavnic.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Pink rhodochrosite with quartz crystals and calcite from the Boldut Mine, Cavnic.
Pink rhodochrosite with quartz crystals and calcite from the Boldut Mine, Cavnic.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
MnCO₃
Morphology
Bladed crystal clusters, botryoidal crusts, and flower-like platy crystal crusts on quartz
Typical size
Plates to about 17 cm
Color / luster
Bright pink, pastel-pink to light salmon-pink
Associated minerals
Quartzsulfides
Availability
Scarce

Sources: SRC-888 SRC-889 SRC-890

About Rhodochrosite →

Geology of the locality

Region
Maramures County
Country
Romania

Coordinates are those of the town of Cavnic given in a Wikipedia article; the historic mines surround the town.

Sources: SRC-161

Sources

  1. SRC-161 · Website
    CavnicWikipedia
  2. SRC-160 · Website
    Quartz (Var: Amethyst), Pyrite, Chalcopyrite (Cavnic)EarthWonders
  3. SRC-521 · Website
    File:Dolomite-Stibnite-200591.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)Robert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons
  4. SRC-323 · Database
    Cavnic, Maramures County, RomaniaMindat.org
  5. SRC-329 · Website
    Wikimedia Commons file page: Marcasite-Quartz-41459.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky (photographer) · Wikimedia Commons
  6. SRC-888 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-206163.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)
  7. SRC-889 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-50007.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)
  8. SRC-890 · Website
    File:Rhodochrosite-Quartz-54399.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons (dealer label)

Draft data from the Provenite workbook. Check entries against the cited sources before relying on them. Photos are open-licence images from Wikimedia Commons; the author and licence are given with each photo.