Calcite Sphalerite Galena Bulgaria

This specimen combines calcite, sphalerite and galena, sourced from the 9th September Mine in Madan, Bulgaria, and collected in 1995.
The piece displays groups of white to translucent calcite crystals arranged in irregular clusters. Many crystals show scalenohedral shapes, sometimes slightly distorted.
A scalenohedron is a crystal form made up of multiple triangular faces, giving it an elongated, double-pyramid appearance.

The calcite surfaces range from matte to slightly satiny, with a few areas showing more translucence. Beneath this lighter layer, the base of the specimen consists of a dark matrix where sphalerite and galena are intergrown. Galena can be identified by its bright metallic lustre and its clean, cubic cleavages, visible in places within the sphalerite. This arrangement — calcite overlying a sulphide-rich matrix — is common in Madan, while not specific to this locality alone.

The piece measures 195 mm in width and 70 mm in height, with a weight of 2160 g. It is presented on a stand that ensures stable display.