Baryte
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NameBaryte
Chemical FormulaBaSO4
Mohs Hardness3
Crystal Systemorthorhombic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavageperfect on {001}, good on {210} and {010}
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity4.5
Colorsorange, brown, yellowish-white, white, gray
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityFrizington, West Cumberland Iron Field, North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England
Mineral GroupSulfates
Usesdrilling mud, pigments, medical applications, collector
Associated Mineralsdolomite
Raritycommon
Description
This specimen features large, tabular, translucent baryte crystals displaying shades of orange, brown, and yellowish-white, growing on a matrix of smaller, off-white dolomite crystals.
Geological Context
Baryte commonly forms in hydrothermal veins, often associated with lead-zinc ore deposits, and can also occur in sedimentary rocks. This specimen from the West Cumberland Iron Field suggests a hydrothermal origin within a mineralized vein system.
