Mineral description : Baryte

Baryte from Alnön, Sweden. Baryte from Pahtavaara, Finland.
A large baryte crystal in baryte, showing the perfect cleavage.

Mineral class Sulphates : Baryte - celestine group

Chemical formula BaSO₄

Crystal system Orthorombic

Habitus Often as tabular crystals or leaflike aggregates, desertroses. Other crystal formes is cockscomb masses and fibric. Also as compact or grainy masses.

Cleavage Perfectly prismatic, uneven fracture.

Hardness 2.5-3.5

Density 4.48

Color Usually colorless, sometimes weakly colored in yellow, green, blue or red nuances.

Streak Colorless.

Luster Vitreous.

Description Easy to recognise on its weight.

Occurance Forms in hydrothermal veins and around hot springs.

Associates Quartz, galena, calcite, flourite, pyrite, dolomite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite.

Notes Insoluble in acids. Often shows yellow flourescense in UV light.
Fuses with difficulty, coloring the flame yellowish green.

Locations Some localities where you can find baryte exists in Sweden.

Bölet manganese mine, north Karlsborg. Drusy baryte with manganite, calcite and flourite. Even as big crystalls.
Alnön, Sunsvall. Baryte have been mined in a sövite limestone. (Pottäng, Hartung) Small flat crystals are easy to find.
Strömshagsgruvan, Vattholma, Uppland. A grainy baryte were mined there.
The quartzveins of Värmland and Dalsland contains baryte (ie Värmskogsgångarna). As massive or small crystals.
In the mangan mines of Värmland. Especially Harstigen is rich on drusy baryte.
Finland :

Pahtavaara gold mine, Sodankylä, Lappland. As a major mineral of gold bearing veins.

To sulphates index.
Mineral group index.
Main index.

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axelsson@acc.umu.se

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Last changed : 2000-12-27

Mineral class	Sulphates : Baryte - celestine group
Chemical formula	BaSO₄
Crystal system	Orthorombic
Habitus	Often as tabular crystals or leaflike aggregates, desertroses. Other crystal formes is cockscomb masses and fibric. Also as compact or grainy masses.
Cleavage	Perfectly prismatic, uneven fracture.
Hardness	2.5-3.5
Density	4.48
Color	Usually colorless, sometimes weakly colored in yellow, green, blue or red nuances.
Streak	Colorless.
Luster	Vitreous.
Description	Easy to recognise on its weight.
Occurance	Forms in hydrothermal veins and around hot springs.
Associates	Quartz, galena, calcite, flourite, pyrite, dolomite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite.
Notes	Insoluble in acids. Often shows yellow flourescense in UV light. Fuses with difficulty, coloring the flame yellowish green.
Locations	Some localities where you can find baryte exists in Sweden. Bölet manganese mine, north Karlsborg. Drusy baryte with manganite, calcite and flourite. Even as big crystalls. Alnön, Sunsvall. Baryte have been mined in a sövite limestone. (Pottäng, Hartung) Small flat crystals are easy to find. Strömshagsgruvan, Vattholma, Uppland. A grainy baryte were mined there. The quartzveins of Värmland and Dalsland contains baryte (ie Värmskogsgångarna). As massive or small crystals. In the mangan mines of Värmland. Especially Harstigen is rich on drusy baryte. Finland : Pahtavaara gold mine, Sodankylä, Lappland. As a major mineral of gold bearing veins.