Barite with Quartz

Item Description

A lovely display specimen from the lesser known Murray Mine (not to be confused with the Meikle Mine) in Nevada. This piece features two generations of Barite, which are separated by a layer of sugary / drusy Quartz. The intial generation of Barite formed in pseudo-rhombic, thick, blocky crystals with soft silvery hue, then a depostion of sparkling white Quartz came in, and finally a second generation of tabular, GEM quality, sharp, lustrous Barite finished off the piece. There is a flat, smooth area along the side where it appears that either the Quartz formed a partial "cast" after a preexisting mineral, or possibly detached from a larger crystal or the pocket wall. The largest crystal measures 1.3 cm. Some silvery-black areas can be seen on the piece, which we believe is minor Stibnite. Very little damage, and showy from several angles. The piece came from the Sugarbowl Pocket.