Baryte (unusual ''Faden''-esque specimen)

Item Description

A uniquely distinctive Baryte specimen from this classic locality in the Massif Central of France. This small cabinet specimen has an unusual form that honestly resembles a "Faden" growth, as the crystals all seemed to have formed along a central "line" in an alternating/staggered growth. There is no matrix, only sharp, thick, lustrous, gemmy, rich golden colored Baryte crystals which measure up to 2.0 cm. The piece is actually very close to being a "floater", as it's crystallized on the top and underside, but there is a point of contact on one end, where it presumably was removed from the pocket wall. I've seen a handful of these specimens over the years, but nothing with this style of growth. If you're a fan of worldwide Barytes, French minerals or you just like interesting crystal formations, this is something you're not likely to find anywhere else on the market, so don't miss out.
Spectacular piece from the collection of the long time, beloved, well-known French field collector, Paul Zerfass. Zerfass built this worldwide collection over nearly 50 years, many of which were personally collected. A biography featuring specimens from his collection (along with his face on the cover) is in the May - June 2017 issue of French mineral magazine, Le Règne Minéral. We have a .pdf copy of the article for anybody interested in reading it (though it's mostly in French). Just drop us a line and know that you'd like to have it.