Barite with Hematite

Unknown Owner

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 is a superb old time example with lustrous partly gemmy double terminated crystals of barite to 10.5 cm in length up on a hematite matrix. There is very minimal cleaving present, the prominent crystals are in very good condition. The specimen comes with an antique label that dates this to the very early 20th century or late 19th century.