FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Blake Barnett]

I have recently been getting very interested in Romanian minerals, especially the calcites of Herja and Cavnic. I am curious as to the status of mining operations in the country. I have heard various rumors of nation-wide closures or something similar, but I wanted to have this confirmed or denied. I have tried to do some research online, but as you know, you cannot trust everything you read on the internet; however, I do trust quite a few of the people that post on this forum. So please, any help that could be given would be much appreciated.

[Jordi Fabre]

Hi Blake,

Few years ago and due to the entry of Romania in the European Comunity all mines from Maramures were obligated to end their activities, mostly becasue the kind of work they did was completely incompatible with the European Comunity regulations, but also because in fact the explotation was deficitary and they remained open just by the pression of the miners against the former Romanian governement. All Maramures county depended of the mines, so if the mines been closed then, many people had been ruined.

I hope it helps.

BTW, nice Calcite.

[GneissWare]

This is a nice Calcite from Romania accented by a Stibnite cluster measuring 58 x 40 mm with 44 mm long crystals.

[nicu]

Hello everyone !
It can be said that the East European territory has been endowed by nature with many riches. Unfortunately, for the romanian people their appreciation and administration tasks were unresolved. The same is true for the governments after 1947. The consequence was that everyone here was "labeled" as semi-educated people. This is the result of lack of communication and of involvement, as well, in promoting their own values. In mineralogy, in Romania, a very important contribution had, in these years, the team of Baia Mare Mineralogical Museum,this was founded in 1989 and the teams of specialized departments in Cluj, Iasi, Bucharest universities. A major contribution to understanding and studying minerals from Romania is, absolutely, FMF and Mindat. Also, must be remember the contribution of several collectors, who passionately and without commercial interests, were able to collect, analyze (under unfavorable conditions) and label thousands of specimens.
Sorry for my poor english expression, but my generation has studied other interesting languages in the public schools and universities.
Best wishes,
Nicu Pascanu

[Jordi Fabre]

[nicu]

Jordi,
Forgiveness for this.

[Michael Shaw]

Blake,
It is my understanding that all of the mines in the Maramures District were closed in September 2007. Also, all of the pumps were removed at that time, so I imagine that most of the mines are flooded, or at least partially so. I developed an interest in Romanian minerals about 25 years ago. Since the mines were in production at that time, specimens from Baia Sprie, Herja, Cavnic, and many other localities were relatively plentiful. Sadly, since the mines closed, they are becoming increasingly scarce. If you want to learn more about Romanian minerals, I suggest you visit Mindat.org and view the specimen pages for many of the listed locations.
Michael

[Jordi Fabre]

[Jean louis lebret]

Nicu I lived in your country during 3 years 1972/1975 and my first son is born in Pitesti. During this period I collected some good minerals I visited also Rosia Montana where the miners "stole" me a Eastwing hammer (a very rarity here in this period) but they offer me some good pyrites. Impressive adventure in the Carpats mountains. La revedere

[nicu]

Hi Jean Louis,
This "Remember" enjoying me.
It is possible that the Stbnite sample comes from Baiut area (Varatec Mine).Frequently, samples from Herja and Baia Sprie, as well, have finer crystals and form nice clumps. Rarely, in Baiut, Rainer gallery and Varatec Mine, these are associated with other minerals and have much thicker crystals. I post here a gallery collapsed, near Varatec Mine, where, two months ago, i found a sample Stibnite.
Excellent Pyrite from Rosia Montana, pyritohedrons crystals are, indeed, rare.
Rosia Montana is still a great mineralocal complex, which, hopefully, that will have a happy continuity, for all those who respect mineralogy and natural environment, in general.

All the best, Jean Louis. La revedere !

Cheers, everybody !

[Tobi]

Hi Blake,

half a year ago a Balkan exhibition took place in the Mineralogical Museum of my hometown Marburg; i made this report for FMF:

https://www.mineral-forum.com/message-board/viewtopic.php?t=1665

Many of the minerals featured in this exhibition were from Romania, so i hope browsing it will be interesting for you.

Cheers!
Tobi

[Jean louis lebret]

Buna ziua (hello)!

Nicu, Multumesc (thank you) for yous useful datas. May I ask you others?

[nicu]

Hello Jean Louis !

Stibnite-typical from Herja.
The second specimen- yourself collected ? In this association, maybe comes from Ocna de Fier, Dognecea, or Sasca-Moldova Noua, Caras Severin Co, indeed Banat region.
Could you tell me an e-mail address ?

Sincerement votre,
Nicu

[Jordi Fabre]

[nicu]

Jordi Fabre,

Thank you !