Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller

 

Mineral Information on:
barite

Chemical Group:    sulfate

Chemical Formula:    BaSO₄

Color: white, yellowish, gray, blue, red, brown, dark brown

Luster:  vitreous, resinous, almost pearly

Transparency: Transparent to sub-translucent

Streak:  white

Hardness:  2.5 to 3.5      Specific Gravity:  4.3 to 4.6             

Cleavage:  2 directions

Crystal Forms and Habits:  Orthorhombic system
    Crystals are generally tabular.
    Habits include massive, desert roses, crested clusters,
    spherical concretions with radiating structures

Mineral Associations:  galena, sphalerite, calcite, dolomite, quartz, fluorite,
     vanadinite, siderite, stibnite, tetrahedrite, chalcopyrite, rtc.

Identifying Characteristics:  high density for a white mineral

Uses:  drilling mud, paper filler, for the "milkshakes" used in x-raying

Occurrences:
USA
Arizona:
     Magma mine, Superior
     Silver Cross Mine, Castle Dome, Yuma County
California:

     Palos Verdes cliffs
Colorado:
     Sterling (blue barite)
     Eagle mine, Gilman, Eagle County (golden barite)
     Stoneham, Weld County
     Book Cliffs, Grand Junction
     Sherman Mine, Leadville, Lake County
Connecticut:
     Cheshire
Georgia:
     Emerson
Illinois:

     Minerva Mine, Cave in Rock, Hardin County
Kansas
Missouri:
     Lake of the Ozarks
Nebraska:
     Odell, Gage County (small crystals)
New Jersey:
     Franklin (fluorescent)
New Mexico:
     Kelly Mine, Madgdalena
     Stevens-Bennett mine, Organ Mountains, near White Sands
Oklahoma:
     Lake Thunderbird, Norman, Cleveland County (desert roses)
South Dakota:

     Wall, Interior, Scenic, Rochford, and Kadota
     Everett Hill ranch, south of Hot Springs (sand crystals)
     Phillip (sand crystals)
     Elk Creek, Bad Lands (septarian nodules)
Tennessee

World-Wide: 
Canada:
     Grand Forks
     Madoc
England:
     Dufton
     Newhaven and Midelton, Derbyshire
     Frizington, Egremont, and Alston Moor, Cumberland
     Mowbray, Mossbury, Fallowfield, and New Brancepeth
Egypt (desert roses)
France:
     Esterel
Germany:
     Clarahall Quarry, Baulholder
Morocco:
     Mibladen
Norway:
     Balme
Romania:

     Felsobanya and Cavnic
Sardinia:

     Carbona
Spain:
     New Almaden
Switzerland:
     Binnenstal
Taiwan:
     Hokuto

 

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- low           when inhaled- moderate

Additional Information: