Quartz with Chalcopyrite Tetrahedrite, Sphalerite and Galena

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Cavnic mine is a famous old Romanian gold mine dating back to the 15th century but which was also operated during the 20th century too. Many thousands of mineral specimens were also extracted during these later operations but the majority were fairly ordinary, or had suffered significant damage during collection. This rather good Quartz-Chalcopyrite specimen strikes an excellent balance between a very fine Hedgehog-like cluster of distinctive stepped prismatic Quartz crystals but with great large (exceptionally to 1.2 cm on edge), brassy to golden, tetrahedral Chalcopyrite crystals providing a contrast, in complex intergrown aggregates. One fairly prominent Quartz crystal has a damaged tip, but its colour means that the damage is not easily seen. Many of the Quartz crystals reach 2 to 2.5 cm in length. Occasional, small, dark grey tetrahedral Tetrahedrite crystals to 3 mm are scattered upon the Chalcopyrite, and Sphalerite and Galena can be seen on the back of the specimen. A classic Cavnic association piece.