Provenite

Krushev dol Mine

MineUnknownDraft data

41.4453° N, 24.9353° E · ± 1 km

Galena and Sphalerite from Smolyan Province, Bulgaria, with photos of specimens from this locality.

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Minerals found here

GalenaSphalerite

On the same specimen

Same specimen Calcite with Galena

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show galena 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 Quartz with Galena

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show galena 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 Galena with Sphalerite

1 specimen photo(s) from this locality show sphalerite 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 Quartz with Sphalerite

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

Galena at Krushev dol Mine

Rounded, apparently dissolved cubes and mirror-bright twinned rosettes, often with clear quartz and calcite

Sharp interlocking galena crystals, some tabular and some modified toward cuboctahedra, on a specimen about 8 cm across.
Sharp interlocking galena crystals, some tabular and some modified toward cuboctahedra, on a specimen about 8 cm across.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Intergrown steel-gray spinel-twinned galena crystals from a 2006 find, on a specimen about 6 cm across.
Intergrown steel-gray spinel-twinned galena crystals from a 2006 find, on a specimen about 6 cm across.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Stepped compound galena cluster resting on quartz with calcite.
Stepped compound galena cluster resting on quartz with calcite.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
PbS
Morphology
Cubic crystals with rounded, almost molten-looking edges up to a few cm (some cavernous); spinel-twinned triangular crystals forming crossing rosettes
Typical size
Cabinet-size groups; one museum specimen is 7 x 5.5 cm
Color / luster
Metallic gray with bright, mirror-like luster on flat faces
Associated minerals
Sphaleritecalcitechalcopyritequartzpyrite
Surface features
Flat mirror-bright faces on twinned crystals; rounded, partly dissolved faces on other crystals
Twins
Spinel-law twins on {111}, giving triangular crystals
Availability
Unknown
History
Mining in the Madan district goes back at least to the Thracians in the fifth century BC (district-level statement). The Mindat page calls the mine famous for fine galena, sphalerite and chalcopyrite specimens.

Sources: SRC-053 SRC-054 SRC-055

About Galena →

Sphalerite at Krushev dol Mine

The mine is regarded as famous for fine specimens of galena, sphalerite and chalcopyrite.

Gemmy olive-green sphalerite crystals with high lustre perched on quartz matrix, from the Krushev dol Mine area, Madan.
Gemmy olive-green sphalerite crystals with high lustre perched on quartz matrix, from the Krushev dol Mine area, Madan.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Cabinet specimen of olive-green, partly twinned sphalerite crystals on sulfide matrix with spinel-twinned galena, from a 2006 find at the Krushev dol Mine.
Cabinet specimen of olive-green, partly twinned sphalerite crystals on sulfide matrix with spinel-twinned galena, from a 2006 find at the Krushev dol Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Plate of mirror-bright, twinned black sphalerite crystals to 1.9 cm with water-clear quartz needles from the Krushev dol Mine.
Plate of mirror-bright, twinned black sphalerite crystals to 1.9 cm with water-clear quartz needles from the Krushev dol Mine.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
Formula
(Zn,Fe)S
Morphology
Crystals, partly twinned, on sulfide or quartz matrix
Typical size
Crystals to about 2 cm on cabinet pieces
Color / luster
Gemmy olive-green with high luster, and mirror-bright black
Associated minerals
Galenachalcopyritequartz
Twins
Twinned crystals reported on specimens
Availability
Unknown
History
A find in 2006 produced olive-green sphalerite on galena-bearing matrix.

Sources: SRC-055 SRC-380

About Sphalerite →

Geology of the locality

Setting
Pb-Zn deposit in the Madan ore field, described as famous for galena, sphalerite and chalcopyrite specimens.
Type
Skarn, Hydrothermal
Host rock
Marble and altered rock (skarn replacement bodies and fault-hosted veins)
Region
Smolyan Province
Country
Bulgaria

Coordinates converted from degrees/minutes/seconds on the Mindat locality page (SRC-055); the +/- 1 km precision is an assumption. Host rock not named by sources.

Sources: SRC-055

Sources

  1. SRC-055 · Database
    Krushev dol Mine, Madan Municipality, Smolyan Province, BulgariaMindat.org
  2. SRC-053 · Website
    Galena from the Madan ore fieldTurnstone Geological Services (turnstone.ca)
  3. SRC-054 · Museum / collection
    Galena, specimen 6743 (Krushev dol mine, Madan ore field)Princeton University Mineral and Gem Collection
  4. SRC-380 · Website
    Wikimedia Commons file page Sphalerite-Galena-289005.jpgRobert M. Lavinsky · Wikimedia Commons

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.