Barite and Dolomite

Barite & Dolomite

Cavnic Mine, Cavnic, Maramures County, Romania

The town of Cavnic is a historic mining locality that was first documented in 1336. The Cavnic mine, specifically, began production in 1958 and is known for having large quantities of lead, zinc, manganese, as well as small quantities of gold, silver, antimony, and barium. Mineral specimens from Cavnic are considered “classics” in the collecting community and are sought after for their distinctive forms and associations. In 2008, the mine closed, adding to the value and collectability of specimens from this locality.

This is one such specimen, now considered a Romanian “classic.” It was first brought to the mineral market in the mid-1980s. It features an atypical combination of minerals, barite and dolomite, and was extracted from a very small pocket containing approximately twelve specimens. Since its discovery, no other mine has produced material of the same unusual combination.

The piece has a matrix of shimmering, powder-pink dolomite mounds. In soft contrast to the dolomite are dense rosettes of translucent, sky-blue barite blades. They spray outwards and add dimension and texture to the specimen. Visually, this specimen has the benefits of translucence, color, a variety of textures, luster, and a combination of differing crystal habits. From the standpoint of mineralogical interest, it is an anomaly from a now closed, classic locality. The combination of its visual and geological traits makes it an irreplaceable mineral treasure of great beauty and importance.

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