The Krásno Sn-W ore district near Horní Slavkov: Mining history, geological and mineralogical characteristics

Abstract

The tin-tungsten Krásno ore district near Horní Slavkov (Slavkovský les area, western Bohemia) belongs to the most important areas of ancient mining in the Czech Republic. The exceptionally rich and variable mineral associations, and the high number of mineral species, make this area one of the most remarkable mineralogical localities on a worldwide scale. The present paper reviews the data on geological setting of the ore district, individual ore deposits and mining history. Horní Slavkov and Krásno were known as a rich source of exquisite quality mineral specimens stored in numerous museum collections throughout Europe. The old museum specimens are often known under the German locality names of Schlaggenwald (= Horní Slavkov) and Schönfeld (=Krásno). The megascopic properties and paragenetic position of selected "mineral classics" are reviewed which include arsenopyrite, fluorapatite, fluorite, hübnerite, chalcopyrite, carpholite, cassiterite, quartz, molybdenite, rhodochrosite. sphalerite, topaz and scheelite.