Barita Azul
Barita is a mineral with formula BaSO₄, in the Sulfatos group. This specimen comes from Mina San Jorge, Portman, Cartagena, Región de Murcia, España and joined the Terrium collection in 1990.
Description
Matrix-free tabular crystals with bluish tones.
History of this specimen
Piece from 1990. From the collection of Ángel García. I made a quick call to make sure I got blue barite because I had heard it was the novelty of the La Unión fair... haha, ignorant of me.
About Barita
Barite is a barium sulphate which, although usually white or colourless, can acquire bluish tones due to colour centres induced by natural radiation or traces of metallic elements in its structure. In specimens from the Cartagena–La Unión district, this colour typically appears zonally in thick tabular crystals, with a vitreous to pearly lustre characteristic of the area.
About the locality
Mina San Jorge forms part of the Cartagena–La Unión mining district, one of the Spanish classics for sulphides and alteration minerals. In this setting, characteristic tabular barites were also found, including some bluish-toned specimens well regarded by collectors.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0233
- Composition
- BaSO₄
- Name
- Barita
- Variety
- Azul
- Group
- Sulfatos
- Category
- Meritum Persé
- Mine
- Mina San Jorge
- District / Municipality
- Portman
- Province
- Cartagena
- Region
- Región de Murcia
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 5 x 3 x 2
- Acquired
- 1990
- Ex-collection
- Ángel García
- Etymology
- From the Greek 'barys', heavy, for its high density.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Aerenita — España
- Aerinita (fibrosa) — España
- Analcima — España
- Analcima — España