Minerals from Bulgaria
Bulgaria has a rich history of mining from antiquity, with evidence of mining by Romans, Saxons and Thracians.
One of the best mineral locations is called Madan, which comes from an Arabic word – madden, meaning ‘mine’.
There are several interesting mines still producing gold, silver, copper, coal, and salt.
Type Localities:
Bulgaria contains the type locality (original identified location) for various minerals, including:
- Ardaite
- Balkanite
- Dachiardite-K
- Hemusite
- Kostovite
- Manganilvaite
- Potassic-magnesio-arfvedsonite
- Stibiocolusite
- Strashimirite
- Vasilite
Best known minerals:
Fantastic specimens of metal ores from around Madan are commonly found online, and are likely to be most peoples first introduction to Bulgarian minerals. These specimens often include pyrite, sphalerite, galena and quartz, and are really rather special, on a budget too!
There are also great specimens of popular minerals including fine specimens of agate, amethyst, aragonite, calcite, fluorite, garnet, hematite, pyrite, rhodochrosite, and tourmaline.
All our Bulgarian stock: