8.2" Blue Bladed Barite Crystal Clusters with Calcite - Morocco

This is a spectacular, small cabinet sized specimen of blue barite that formed in association with calcite. The calcite lines the entire cavity, with pristine clusters of blue bladed barite crystals scattered throughout the pocket. This is a truly aesthetic specimen that would make an excellent addition to any mineral collection.

This specimen comes with a display stand.

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.

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DETAILS
SPECIES
Barite & Calcite
LOCATION
Sidi Lahcen, Nador, Morocco
SIZE
Entire specimen 8.2 x 4.4", largest barite cluster 2" wide
CATEGORY
ITEM
#134935