Barite with Calcite

Unknown Owner

Classic specimen showing a deep amber colored gemmy terminated crystal of barite 3.2 cm in height coming off of a matrix mostly covered with golden yellow crystallized calcite. This is in really good condition all around. Brightly fluorescent.The Elk Creek locality in Meade and Lawrence Counties, South Dakota, is world-famous for producing some of the finest golden barite crystals ever discovered. Geologically, these specimens are found within large, iron-stained calcareous concretions, often referred to as septaria, which are hosted in the Cretaceous-aged Pierre Shale. The barite crystals formed through the precipitation of barium-rich fluids within the shrinkage cracks and hollow interiors of these nodules, typically appearing as elongated, gemmy prisms with a distinct honey-yellow to rich amber color. Historically, the locality gained significant attention in the mid-20th century as erosion along the banks and tributaries of Elk Creek exposed the fossiliferous concretions to surface collectors. While never an industrial mine, the area has been a site of intensive specimen mining by private individuals and commercial collectors from the 1970s through to the present day. The most sought-after pieces feature lustrous, transparent barite crystals perched on a contrasting matrix of dark brown, crystalline calcite, making them iconic staples of American mineralogy.