The calcite of the hydrothermal Surneshko Kladenche copper vein deposit from the Rossen ore field, Bulgaria, sometimes encloses peculiar filamentary pyrite crystals. Three successive calcite generations were observed belonging to a low-temperature (<235°C) carbonate paragenesis formed in open cavities of the ore veins after the main chalcopyrite mineralisation. Three generations of pyrite crystals are associated with these calcite crystals: pyrite 1, with [001] elongated columnar crystals which crystallised in open space; pyrite 2, in groups of long (up to 10 mm) sub-parallel tortuous filaments of varying thickness (3-20 μm) which are oriented nearly perpendicular to the surfaces of a transient w{314̄5} scalenohedral calcite crystal zone; and pyrite 3, made of slightly elongated small crystals, located in the outermost v{213̄1} zone of the same scalenohedral calcite crystals. The columnar pyrite 1 is formed by subsequent thickening of thin straight whiskers rapidly grown under diffusional regime, whereas the filamentary pyrite 2 and 3 grew contemporaneously with the enclosing calcite crystal.

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