Fan of fibrous-radiated Millerite crystals, with a golden color and great luster, on a Calcite matrix offering a nice color contrast, with small Pyrite crystals and remnants of limestone matrix. Note that this specimen has not been acid-etched, as can be seen from the good condition of its Calcite.
The specimen is a classic of Catalan mineralogy and comes from the collection of Ignacio Gaspar Sintes.
Eugenia Mine belongs to the historic Bellmunt mining district, mainly known for its argentiferous galena deposits. The mine was an old lead concession of four mining claims (approximately four hectares). It was already listed in the Spanish Mining Statistics of 1909 and, judging by its registration number, it is considered to be even older, indicating an old exploitation within the Bellmunt mining district.
Geologically, the mineralization occurs in hydrothermal veins hosted by Paleozoic rocks of the Catalan Coastal Range. These veins contain mainly Galena and Sphalerite, accompanied by various sulfides and a wide range of secondary minerals formed in the oxidation zone.
Eugenia Mine, Bellmunt del Priorat, Comarca Priorat, Tarragona, Catalonia / Catalunya Spain
Specimen size: 5.4 × 4.5 × 4 cm = 2.13” × 1.77” × 1.57”
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