12.7" Blue Bladed Barite Crystal Clusters on Calcite - Morocco

This is a spectacular cabinet sized specimen of blue barite that formed in association with calcite. The calcite encrusts most of the matrix, with clusters of blue bladed barite scattered across the calcite. This is a truly aesthetic specimen that would make an excellent addition to any mineral collection.

Barite, commonly spelled baryte, is well-known for its great range of colors and varied crystal forms and habits. = It is a heavy mineral consisting of barium sulfate, and typically has the chemical formula of BaSO4. The barite group consists of baryte, celestine, anglesite, and anhydrite. It is generally white to colorless and is the main source of barium.

Calcite, CaCO3, is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate. The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Calcite crystals are trigonal-rhombohedral, though actual calcite rhombohedra are rare as natural crystals. However, they show a remarkable variety of habits including acute to obtuse rhombohedra, tabular forms, and prisms. Calcite exhibits several twinning types adding to the variety of observed forms. It may occur as fibrous, granular, lamellar, or compact. Cleavage is usually in three directions parallel to the rhombohedron form.

FOR SALE
$295
DETAILS
SPECIES
Barite & Calcite
LOCATION
Sidi Lahcen, Nador, Morocco
SIZE
Entire specimen 12.7 x 9.3"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#137009