Barite (ex Jim Houran Collection)

Item Description

The famous Book Cliffs area in Western Colorado is the source of fine quality (of GEM quality) colorless Barite crystals, which form in concretions that can vary in size from less than an inch to over 6 feet! It's important to note that the Book Cliffs formation actually stretches all the way into Eastern Utah, where the same Barite crystals have been found, but the best and most celebrated examples are those from just north of Grand Junction in Colorado. These crystals are chemically pure due to their colorless nature, and the superior internal clarity and good sized crystals can make for some impressive faceted gems. This stone is an exceptional example of the quality of these Barites. It has a deep "Modified Cut Corner Rectangle" cut with only very very slight inclusions. It's one of the larger gems I've seen of this material, and the fact that it's incredibly "clean" makes it all the more worthwhile to any rare gem collector. The density of Barite also allows for a heavier stone in this size range, so you get a lot of bang for your buck with this gem. From the collection of Dr. James "Jim" Houran, noted thumbnail mineral collector, gemstone collector and a speaker at our annual Dallas Mineral Symposium. Jim is the Managing Director of AETHOS Consulting Group. He's a 25-year veteran in applied psychological research and a published expert on peak performance, online testing and interpersonal and organizational compatibility. He has authored over 150 articles, and his award-winning work has been profiled by a myriad of media outlets and programs including the Discovery Channel, A&E, BBC, National Geographic, NBC’s Today Show, USA Today, New Scientist, Psychology Today and Forbes.com.