Roger Weller, geology instructor
wellerr@cochise.edu
copyright 2007-R.Weller
Mineral
Information on:
witherite
Chemical Group: carbonate
Chemical Formula:
BaCO3
Color: colorless, white, gray
Streak: White
Luster: vitreous Transparency: translucent
Hardness: 3.5
Specific Gravity: 4.3
Fracture:
Cleavage: poor cleavages {010} and {110}
Crystal Forms:
Orthorhombic system
Crystals are always twinned, forming Pseudo-hexagonal
dipyramids.
Occurs in columnar, granular, fibrous, botryoidal
forms.
Mineral Associations: rare mineral; found with galena
Identifying Characteristics: white, high density, effervesces in acid
Uses:
Occurrences: England and Canada; in the USA in Kentucky and California
Toxicity: when-swallowed-
when inhaled-
Additional Information: