Mineral Species: Barite

Chemical Formula: BaSO4

Chemical Name: Barium Sulfate

Mineral Class: Sulfate

Mineral Notes: Barite is easily identified by its heavy weight. Most similar minerals are much lighter. It tends to form well defined flattened crystals. Occasionally it forms large rounded mounds from precipitation of hot, barium-rich springs.

Description: The specimen consists of a mass of parallel leaf-like plates of white Barite fused together into a crystalline mass. The plates are well formed, particularly the crystals at the front of the specimen. Many have a very bright pearly luster and several show some transparency.

Location: Carrington, Somerset, England.