Baryte - Les Malines, France | Ref27

Specimen overview

This white baryte from Les Malines, Gard, France, is composed of numerous tabular crystals grouped into aggregates. The crystals overlap and intergrow with one another, forming a specimen that develops mainly vertically.

The baryte ranges from white to creamy white, with more translucent areas depending on crystal thickness. The flat faces and edges of the individual blades are clearly visible, while some areas display a denser crystallisation made up of smaller crystals.

The rear view reveals a different arrangement of the crystallisation, with numerous bladed crystals covering much of the surface. The video shows the distribution of the different aggregates as well as variations in transparency and relief depending on the viewing angle.

Provenance

This baryte comes from the Les Malines mining district in the Gard department, France, and was collected in 1983.

Les Malines is a former mining district that was primarily worked for zinc and lead. The locality is also known among mineral collectors for its baryte, sometimes associated with sphalerite, pyrite or galena.

Dimensions and presentation

The specimen measures 50 mm wide × 120 mm high and weighs 200 g including its base.