Barite with Calcite, Hematite

specimen number:
1052285

location:
Frizington, Cumbria, England, UK

description:
Barite specimens from Frizington, Cumbria (historic West Cumberland Iron Field) are best known as byproduct collectibles from the 19th to early 20th century hematite mining district, where iron ore was worked intensively and large cavities in the ore-bearing limestones produced attractive barite crystals alongside calcite, dolomite, and iron oxides. Many classic Frizington pieces show parallel bladed barite, commonly on pale dolomite matrix and often tinted or included by hematite, reflecting the iron-rich environment of the mines around the locality. This example shows beautiful lustrous reddish translucent double terminated crystals to 5.7 cm in length on a hematite matrix with small crystals of calcite. This is in very good condition for such an old timer. The specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video. The piece dates to the very beginning of the 20th century.

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