Baryte, Realgar

This is a fine old piece from a trickle of small finds that I am told came out in the 1950s and 1960s. It is certainly one of the better of the few specimens that I have seen of the habit. This specimen features many intergrown, color zoned (tan to red), translucent and lustrous crystals of baryte. The largest spear-point measures 4.3 cm tall and 3.2 cm wide. The red or ocher color is due to small amounts of included realgar, which is not uncommon from this locality per se. It is very rare included in baryte, however. When it is included, the inclusions tend to be uniformly dispersed to make for "red baryte," of a uniform brick-red color. I had only before ever seen in person 2 or 3 of these specimens, showing oriented or directionalized inclusions of the realgar clearly placed in different layers of the baryte, and said to be from the older finds. It is of a very unique style that, so much as I know, does not occur anywhere else in the world to date.

Unknown Owner

Product details

Species

Barite, Realgar

SizeSmall Cabinet

Dimensions6.5 x 5.0 x 3.3 cm

Locality

Romania, Maramureș County, Cavnic

Added on10/23/2024

Comments

Known provenance

2024/08