BARITE
Specimen bar-19
$ 63.00Dims: 1.7 x 1.2 x 1.2" (4.3 x 3.0 x 3.0 cm)
Wt: 1.07 oz. (30.5 g) w/ base
Stoneham, Weld County, Colorado, U.S.A.
This thumbnail specimen consists of a cluster of at least 10 intersecting Barite blades. These blades are generally in good condition- though at least 5 appear to be damaged, most show some form of partial healing on their breakage surfaces. The largest crystal has dimensions of 1.0 x 0.5 x 0.2" (2.5 x 1.3 x 0.5 cm), and is not quite incomplete due to restricted growing space. All have good orthorhombic prismatic form, but three crystals in particular are exceptional (see the second image)- even though they are rather heavily-intergrown with each other, their form is nearly perfect, with well-defined edges and very clean faces. Whereas the other crystals tend to have a pearly luster, these show a vitreous one. Their color is also a deeper gray-blue, and they are generally clearer than the rest, which are dimly transparent. There is a small amount of a chalky, beige host rock still present, and the specimen is hot-glued onto a flat acrylic base.