An aid to labeling display quality barite specimens
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Click picture to enlarge. Unless noted all specimens are from Bill & Diana Dameron’s barite suite
BRITISH ISLES
UK : ENGLAND |
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| Cornwall, Menheniot, Wheal Mary Ann |  |
| Pale tan/clear, yellow tips, beveled tabular crystals to 5+ cm (Minerals of Cornwall & Devon, BM specimen). Classic, uncommon, old. Great piece from Cornwall. | |
| Cornwall, Gwennap, Ale & Cakes (often Cakes & Ale, briefly used) mine |   |
| Thin,long grey-brown tabular crystals, some phantoms, to 3 cm. Cornwall/Devon book, Royal Cornwall (Truro) Museum. Greg/Lettsom lists the mine as Cakes & Ale, as does the label from Frank Rutley (d. 1904), with his own diagram of the crystallography on reverse of label, with this piece in the Hunterian M&AG. These crystals to 4 cm. | |
| Cornwall, Gwennap, Mt. Wellington mine (near Cakes & Ale) |   |
| Thin gray elongated tabular blades to 1.4 cm in small groups, doubly terminated, on massive chalcopyrite. | |
| Cornwall, near Liskeard, Herodsfoot mine |  |
| Reportedly well crystallized. Size? Greg/Lettsom. | |
| Cumbria, Caldbeck Fells, Dry Gill |  |
| White opaque tabular crystal 5+ cm with classic mimetite (campylite) balls. | |
| Cumbria, Dalmellington &/or Parkside |      |
| The Dalmellington Iron Company operated the Holebeck mine from 1869 to 1900. Holebeck adjoins Parkside. Dalmellington is usually on labels today as the source of classic, sometimes large, gold or pale yellow elongated prisms. However, knowledgable British collectors say that Parkside is more likely. All part of the same complex, and The Parkside company took over one of the nearby Dalmellington pits. Flat tabular crystals also occur. The first three above are all on display at the BMNH, the white one labeled Parkside, and are cabinet specimens. The second is probably about 19 cm long. The elongated crystal on matrix, from the Eric Asselborn collection in Jeff Scovil's photo, is 6.4 cm long. The specimen with no matrix, two very clear intergrown crystals, is 8 cm high. | |
Cumbria, Egremont, Bigrigg mine |
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Although known for calcite, this mine (near Pala Flat) also had barite; this specimen labeled Bigrigg (appears to be small cabinet) is in the BMNH. |
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| Cumbria, Egremont, Pallaflat (aka Palla Flats) mine |   |
| This is the only mine in what is considered the Bigrigg area which is known to have produced high quality barite specimen. Some say they are the only decent barite specimens from the West Cumberland Iron Ore Fields to be associated with visible calcite crystals, but there are many other barites with calcite labeled Frizington, so this claim seems unlikely. The barite is usually blue or blue to yellow, with a flat tabular habit, and some of these were recovered in modern times. First specimen has larger crystals, nearly clear, somewhat green, about 8 cm oveall; second 8.5 cm plate of blue barite crystals to 2.3 cm, smaller calcites. | |
| Cumbria, Egremont OR Cumbria, Frizington (labels confuse or use Egremont district & Frizington village; there were many individual mines). Labels also from Cleator Moor & Mowbray mine (Frizington village). Cumbria was formerly Cumberland with different borders. |                |
Egremont (and often Frizington) are often used as a catchall Cumbria locality. Many specimens are labeled Egremont or Frizington without specific mine information, and with few exceptions it is difficult to pin down a specific mine, most of which are quite close to each other. From left to right:
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| Cumbria, Florence mine (outskirts of Egremont); also Ullcoats mine, Beckermet and Winscales; Haile Moor is nearby. |  |
| Hematite stained/included white chisel crystals to 5 cm in group (this one a Kristalle specimen). Also reported in blue crystals. Ullcoats was the first mine; the Florence mine came later and was eventually connected to Ullcoats. Beckermet and its Winscales shaft were extensive and they also were eventually connected to the Florence (Symes & Young). Most famous for hematite and fluorite; barite is scarce from Florence. | |
Cumbria, near Egremont, Winscales (see above) |
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Above specimen in BMNH labeled Winscales. |
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| Cumbria, Coledale area (near Braithwaite), Force Crag mine |  |
| Milky, thin, glossy square tabular crystals to 3.5 cm, virtually damage free (occurs to 30 cm). Can occur with sphalerite, and can be yellow tipped (Greg/Lettsom; Symes/AYoung). L. Greenbank collected this piece in the 1980s. | |
| Cumbria, Dufton Fels Mine (formerly in & frequently labeled County Westmorland) |  |
| Large (10 cm) very clear tabular crystal. Also occurs prismatic and much larger, although some same the very large crystals are from nearby Silverband. Also yellowish, curved according to Gregg & /Lettsom. | |
| Cumbria, near Dufton, (also near Appleby), Threlkeld Side mine (level) |  |
| Part of the Dufton complex. Milky, blocky modified tabular crystals to 2.7 cm on edge; larger crystals common, to 10 cm with darker phantoms, also in floaters. UKJMM 24. See Threlkeld, below. | |
Cumbria, near Keswick, Threlkeld mine |
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This former lead-zinc mine near the Force Crag mine (not the granite quarry) evidently also had some cockscomb barite; some confusion with the "Threlkeld Side level" of the Dufton complex. |
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| Cumbria, near Knock, (also near Appleby), Silverband mine (or Westmoreland Silverband) |     |
| Not to be confused with Yorkshire Silverband. Usually clear; this thick tabular crystal (3.7 cm) very unusual with galena crystal (ex R. Sutcliffe, R. Barstow, B. Lloyd). Also clear, zoned doubly terminated floater showing unusual zoning, Cal Graeber specimen, as seen in UKJMM #20 (ex Ralph Sutcliffe specimen), about 6.5x4 cm. The Edinburg NMS crystal is about 4.5 cm. The water clear blades are 0.8 cm thick, specimen 4x5 cm. Good description of the mine in Symes & Young. | |
| Cumbria, Scordale, Hilton mine |   |
| Clear, some attractively iron stained flat crystals to 5 cm in groups. More of iron staining could be removed if desired. Occurs larger & clearer. Some suspect the larger clear tabular crystals are from Murton mine, across the stream.. White chisel crystals, 1.5x2 cm, in vug with 1 cm twinned fluorite crystal, 6 cm specimen overall. | |
| Cumbria, Scordale, Murton mine |  |
| Across the creek from the Hilton mine. Somewhat clear to milky chisels to 4.5 cm, 7x5.5 overall. This piece collected in 1973 by John Clayton. | |
| Cumbria, Nenthead-Alston Moor |   |
| Clear tabular or blocky. Exact shaft or mine usually not known. See UKJMM #20. Many old specimens labeled "Alston Moor" may be from the Nenthead complex of mines. Barite from Cumbria between the mines near Caldbeck Fells to Alston, north of Nenthead, were labled "Alston Moor," which is in fact a much smaller area. These two old NMS specimens are similar to others with the Alston Moor label; crystals about 1.5 cm. Greenside mine near Glenridding in the Lake District and Carrigil on the South Tyne reportedly produced crystalized barite, for example, as did Roughton Gill (G&L). * Edinburgh NMS images are copyrighted and reproduction and display are prohibited without written consent. http://www.nms.ac.uk/ | |
| Cumbria, near Nenthead, Nentsberry Haggs mine |   |
| Famous for WITHERITE altering to (or altered to) white barite (crystal size here 2.4 cm). (Also occurs rarely at nearby Rampgill mine in Nenthead, Scaleburn Vein). Also produces clear barite crystals with or altering to ALSTONITE. These altered crystals are 0.8 cm. | |
| Derbyshire, near Castleton, Dirtlow Rake |   |
| Curved, nearly white (slight pink color) tips of crystal blades to 2.5 cm per group, on thick white blades, light blue towards bases, in tight group, 6x4 cm. Sliced nodule group; light tan-peach colored centers to 2 cm with dark rims in packed radiating minute tan crystals, 11 nodules in the specimen, which is 11x6 cm. Polished to low gloss. | |
| Derbyshire, near Castleton, open cast site near Hazard mine |  |
| Large flat tabular crystal, slightly fan shaped (wider at top), coated with attractive chalky off-white barite with slight iron staining and tiny barite crest growths on faces, about 5x3.5x1 cm with a smaller similar crystal growing out of each side. 6x5 cm overall. No chalky coating on very bottom; a few sparkles. Collected by David Barker, late 1970s. Neat. | |
Derbyshire, near Eyam, Ladywash mine |
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White balls (tiny chalk-like blades) to 1 cm, partially coated with light purple fluorite druse, all on nice dark grey with yellow tinge fluorite cubes with pyrite (nickel-rich "bravoite") inclusions, mostly near surface. From Trumpet Vein. |
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Derbyshire, Matlock area |
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Several mines have (had) barite. Pale yellow tabular crystals to 2.5 cm. *Edinburgh NMS images
are copyrighted and reproduction and display are prohibited without written consent. http://www.nms.ac.uk/ |
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| Derbyshire, near Middleton-by-Youlgreave |  |
| “Oakstone” banded brown stalactites & slices, polished. UKJMM #12. | |
| Devon, near Torquay, Babbacombe quarry | |
| Pink cockscombs (Minerals of Cornwall & Devon) | |
| Devon, Christow, Teign Valley, Bridford mine | |
| White or cream blades to 1½" yellow tips possible . | |
| Devon, Sidmouth |
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Colorless to light honey brown tabular crystals to 4-5 cm, sometimes with bluish tinge. Occasionally elongated. In calcite nodules in coastal cliffs. UKJMM 23. |
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| Dorset, Isle of Portland, Bowers (sometimes Boyers) quarry |  |
| Dark brown tabular blades with sawtooth edges, groups to 1 cm, with calcite druse on limestone. Barite fluoresces tan in medium and short wave. 3.5x5 cm overall, Don Newsome specimen. | |
| Durham, Lunehead, Closehouse mine | |
| Thumbnails; some cabinet specimens. Clear, sometimes bluish tabular crystals to several cm. MinDat.org, www.rock-site.co.uk | |
| Durham, Teesdale, Cow Green mine | |
| Fairly large (10 cm?)clear grey translucent tabular crystals, modified edges sometimes have white barite overgrowth. See Symes & Young. | |
Kent, Isle of Sheppey, Warden Point |
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Glossy nodules (roses), grey or tan, commonly to 5 cm on thin dark yellow calcite coating matrix are found on the beach. This Edinburgh NMS specimen is about 3 cm. The nearly complete 2.5 cm ball is unusual, on 8 cm matrix with more tpical broken/contacted ball. The glossy radiating crystals are 3 cm in diameter are on a 7 cm specimen. |
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| Northumberland, Hexham, Settling Stones mine |  |
| White/clearish chisels to 2.5 cm, somewhat zoned; 9 cm specimen. Tips very white. The barite and witherite mine bears the company name and was formerly in Teesdale. | |
| North Yorkshire, Arkengarthdale, Damrigg "mine;" several levels of complex identified as mines |   |
| Milky lustrous tabular spears to 1.5 cm in groups. Polished slice of stalactite, 4.5 cm, "Primrose Lead Level." | |
| North Yorkshire, Greenhow, near Pateley Bridge, Coldstones quarry |  |
| Bladed cockscomb balls to 2.5x3 cm (two large, one smaller), sharp well defined blades, good luster on edges. On matrix of small (0.6 cm) fluorite cubes, transparent, very light purple. 7x4.5 cm overall. | |
| North Yorkshire, Swaledale, Barras End mine | |
| Banded dark brown material which looks remarkably like the famous "oakstone" from Derbyshire, makes nice polished sections. Cavities have very small prismatic brown crystals also. See UKJMM #27. | |
North Yorkshire, Swaledale, Old Gang mines (Old Gang Lead Mining Co.) |
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An old locality; this example of milky spears to 1.2 cm. are from the Old Rake vein on the Hard Level, dug recently (8/06). 6 cm group. |
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| North Yorkshire, Wenysleydale area, Wetgrooves (Wetgroves) mine; some other mines also had barite |    |
| Small clear-milky thin pointed tabular crystals, to 0.5 cm, coating brown lustrous 1.4 cm fluorite cubes. 4.5x6 cm. Clear tabular crystals to 0.7 cm in group, 3x4 cm, collected by Lloyd Llewellyn, bottom of spiral shaft in 3/2007. Also thicker chisel shaped crystals to 3 cm, yellow, brown or milky white. Very translucent, pale (nearly colorless) creamy/milky to clear thin tabular pointed crystals to 5 cm, with many minor faces and growth ridges, in undamaged group, 8x5 cm overall. Ex Peter Ward. (UKJMM 19, Manchester Mus.; MinDat). | |
Shropshire |
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Old barite mining area. Micros certainly available, probably macro specimens but uncommon. |
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Surrey, Nutfield |
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Honey-colored crystals in nodules in clay pits. G&L |
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UK : SCOTLAND |
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| Dumfries & Galloway (Dumfriesshire), Wanlockhead (most from New Glencrieff mine) |          |
From left:
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East Ayershire, Muirkirk, Gass Water |
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Clear thick doubly terminated crystal in Hunterian M&AG; almost too good for the area. 5 cm |
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| Highland, Isle of Skye, near Staffin, Floddigarry |  |
| Honey colored crystals to 4+ cm in septerian concretions. This one from the Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery is much smaller, around 2 cm. | |
Highland (formerly Argyll), Strontian barite mines |
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White cockscomb crystals at Whitesmith mine, sometimes with small galena crystals. This Edinburgh NMS specimen with 1 cm crystals was found on dumps of Strontian Main Vein. Also see UKJMM 21 & www.curriehj.freeserve.co.uk, mindat.org |
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Perth and Kinross, Aberfeldy, Ben Eagach, Cluniemore mine |
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Centimeter-size transparent to brown tabular crystals. UKJMM 21 |
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| Renfrewshire, Muirshiel mine | |
| White blades in balls (cockscomb), opaque. Good size. UKJMM several issues | |
| Renfrewshire, near Kilbirnie, Greenhill Quarry | |
| Blocky blue so-so crystals with hematite staining. UKJMM #21 | |
South Lanarkshire, Leadhills, Wembley (also known as Borlase) Shaft |
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Light yellowish-cream colored to milky white thick glossy chisels, sometimes with calcite or galena and darker. Both examples in Edinburgh NMS; first example on display (photo through glass), crystals to 3+ cm; second with calcite & galena also has crystals to 3+ cm, probably from Wembley Shaft. |
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| Stirling, near Bridge of Allan, Airthrey Hill mine |  |
| Flat opaque tabular blades, white with some "flesh" color resembling Dreislar , Germany , to 2 cm in group, 3.5x5 cm. Some small malachite blebs. Found 2001. | |
UK : WALES |
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Cardiff, Blaengwynlais Quarry |
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Milky to tan thin opague blades to 1 cm in tight groups, 3x3 cm specimen collected by Lloyd Llewellyn at Bench #3 in 5/2007. |
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Cardiff, Tafts Well Quarry |
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White blades with iron staining to 2.5 cm with tiny calcite crystals. |
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| Cardiff, Ton Mawr quarry | |
| Crystals reported at this calcite locality. UKJMM | |
| Chaerphilly Machen, Machen quarry |  |
| Cockscomb white, thin blades with scattered very small tan calcite rhombs. 2x5 cm overall. | |
| Chaerphilly, Oakdale Colliery | |
| Colliery tips contain clear TN (2.5 cm) crystals. UKJMM #18. | |
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND |
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| County Sligo, Benbulben barite quarry |  |
| Square, thin white somewhat translucent tabular crystals to 2 cm with "pyramid" faces, in groups. Found 2003. | |
County Tipperary, Silvermines district, Mogul mine |
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Small (1.5 cm) cream-white blades on galena & sphalerite. Cal Graeber specimen. |
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BARITE SPECIMEN LOCALITIES
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