Dolomite with Quartz, Sphalerite, Calcite - image 1
specimen video

Dolomite with Quartz, Sphalerite, Calcite

Unknown Owner
Help improve this recordNo owner is registered for this specimen yet. If it's yours or you know more about it, you can add the owner, provenance, publications and other details.
Sign in to contribute
Crystallized dolomite across the top of matrix with crystallized quartz, sphalerite, and calcite. Minimal damage present, still a nice combination piece for the locality.The Trepca mining complex, located in the Mitrovica district of Kosovo, is one of the largest and most significant lead-zinc-silver deposits in Europe. Geologically, it is a skarn and hydrothermal replacement deposit formed during the Tertiary period, where mineralizing fluids interacted with Paleozoic carbonate rocks and volcanic tuffs within the Vardar Zone. The mineralization is complex, featuring massive bodies of galena and sphalerite alongside a diverse array of over sixty different mineral species. Historically, mining at Trepca dates back to at least the Roman era and was highly active during the medieval Serbian Kingdom, but the modern industrial phase began in 1927 with the British company Selection Trust Ltd. The complex reached its production peak during the mid-20th century under Yugoslav state control, becoming a cornerstone of the regional economy. Trepca is world-renowned among mineralogists for its aesthetic specimens, particularly sharp, lustrous crystals of galena, black sphalerite (marmatite), and translucent pink rhodochrosite. Although production was severely disrupted by the conflicts of the 1990s, portions of the Stari Trg mine continue to operate today, maintaining its legacy as both an industrial powerhouse and a source of museum-quality mineral specimens.

Product details

SizeCabinet
Dimensions11.5 x 8.0 x 7.5 cm
Added on07/16/2026

Known provenance

DateCollectorAcquisition price
08/2026Unknown OwnerNot disclosed
Weinrich MineralsNot disclosed

Learn more

Quartz
Mineral guide
Learn about Quartz
a versatile mineral with clear, milky, and colored varieties; crystal forms, formation clues, and tips for identifying amethyst and citrine.
Regional guide
Quartz from Trepča Stari Trg Mine
Sign in to contribute