Barita
Barita is a mineral with formula BaSO₄, in the Sulfatos group. This specimen comes from Campos de Golf, Atamaría, Cartagena, Región de Murcia, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Large, white barite specimen organized crystallized in blades.
About Barita
Barium sulfate, known as barite, usually occurs in white or colorless tones. In the Cartagena-La Unión deposit this coloration appeaear in these thick tabular crystals with that vitreous-pearly luster so characteristic of the region.
About the locality
This historic mining enclave in Atamaría (Cartagena, Spain), world-renowned for the iconic white barite specimens from legendary mines like Marisol or Los Palomos, was colloquially renamed after being absorbed by the La Manga Club luxury resort in the 1970s. Today, this outstanding geological heritage is critically endangered by relentless real estate speculation and golf course expansions, which threaten to permanently bury the remaining mineral dumps and irreversibly seal off the entrances to the old galleries.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0634
- Composition
- BaSO₄
- Name
- Barita
- Group
- Sulfatos
- Mine
- Campos de Golf
- District / Municipality
- Atamaría
- Province
- Cartagena
- Region
- Región de Murcia
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 10 x 7 x 4
- Weight
- 389.1 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Ex-collection
- Alejandro Cabello
- Etymology
- It comes from the Greek «barys» (βαρύς), meaning «heavy». This name perfectly describes one of its most distinctive properties: its high density for a non-metallic mineral.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Aerenita — España
- Aerinita (fibrosa) — España
- Analcima — España
- Analcima — España