Crystal Brown Barite

Chemical Formula

BaSO₄

Composition

Barium sulfate, sometimes with small amounts of strontium

Variable Formula

(Ba,Sr)SO₄

Color

Colorless, white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, brown, blue, green, gray, and black. May also be multicolored and banded.

Streak

White

Hardness

3 - 3.5

Crystal System

Orthorhombic

3D Crystal Atlas
(Click for animated model) 

Crystal Forms 
and Aggregates

Crystals are tabular, prismatic, and as grainy, platy, and coxcomb aggregates. Individual crystals are often twinned, and can be quite large. May also be bladed, massive, nodular, fibrous, stalactitic, and as perfect rosettes. Crystals occasionally contain phantom growths.

Transparency

Transparent to opaque

Specific Gravity

4.3 - 4.6

Luster

Vitreous to pearly

Cleavage

1,1 - basal ; 2,1 - prismatic ; 3,1 - pinacoidal

Fracture

Uneven

Tenacity

Brittle

Other ID Marks

Commonly fluorescent in a variety of colors; sometimes also phosphorescent.

In Group

Sulfates; Anhydrous Sulfates

Striking Features

Heaviness, hardness, and crystal habits

Environment

In sedimentary rock layers and in hydrothermal and mesothermal metal ore veins. Rarely in alteredbasalts.
 

Rock Type

Sedimentary, Metamorphic

Popularity (1-4)

2

Prevalence (1-3)

1

Demand (1-3)

1