Limestone quarry
Gemerská Ves, Revúca District, Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia
Gemerská Ves, okres Revúca, Banskobystrický Kraj, Slovenská Republika
Key Information
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Gemerská Ves is a village in Slovakia with a limestone quarry known for red calcite crystals with phantom structures, likely no longer in operation.
The quarry is in the southeastern Slovakian mountain range, near two rivers, with a temperate climate and karst ecology.
Calcite crystals contain inclusions like dolomite and hematite, formed in limestone cavities from water solutions.
The village has a history since the 13th century, with traditional Slovakian cuisine and possible local festivals.
Location and Geology
Gemerská Ves lies in the Revúca District of the Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia, in the southeastern part of the Slovakian mountain range, near the confluence of the Východný and Západný Turiec rivers. The limestone quarry here is a sedimentary rock formation, known for its cavities containing red calcite crystals up to 8 cm, formed through precipitation from water solutions.
Minerals and Mining
The quarry is famous for its red calcite crystals with phantom structures, which include minerals like dolomite, hematite, goethite, titanite, kaolinite, illite, and apatite as inclusions. It seems likely that the quarry is small and old, possibly no longer in operation, and was historically used for local construction or lime production.
Culture and Environment
The village, with roots back to the 13th century, was affected by historical events like Turkish invasions and likely has traditional Slovakian dishes like bryndzove halušky. Its temperate climate features cold winters and warm summers, with a karst ecology that includes unique flora and fauna.
Unexpected Detail
Interestingly, the calcite crystals' inclusions provide insights into the surrounding soil and rock, connecting the mineral formation to the local environment in a way that might surprise enthusiasts expecting only surface-level mineral descriptions.