Barite - Daye, Huangshi, Hubei Province, China

A substantial cabinet-sized barite specimen from Daye, Hubei Province, China, composed of an attractive cluster of thick, bladed to tabular crystals. The intergrown crystals create a sculptural, three-dimensional arrangement with numerous overlapping terminations and excellent display presence.
The barite shows creamy white to pale beige coloration with subtle colour zoning visible within some of the crystals. Lustrous surfaces and areas of apparent recrystallization add texture and complexity, particularly when the specimen is viewed under good lighting.
At 14 cm across, this is a sizeable example, and its considerable heft reflects the unusually high density characteristic of barium-rich barite. An attractive and representative Chinese barite with good crystal development and strong cabinet presence.

Mineral: Barite
Locality: Daye, Huangshi, Hubei Province, China
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Mineral Class: Sulfates
Provenance: Ex Rob Belcher Collection
Dimensions: 14 × 8 × 4.5 cm