Baryte w/ Drusy Quartz (Reynolds Coll.)

Item Description

Densely intergrown, stout, baryte prisms form a sculptural large specimen from the less well-known Northumberland Mine of Nevada. The lustrous crystals have gray bodies and classic sharp, gemmy amber chisel terminations. Phantoms in some of the prisms plus patches of sparkly drusy quartz add character. They resemble classic English barytes. This old mine has operated intermittently since 1866 for silver, gold and baryte and baryte specimens from here are much rarer compared to those from the Meikle Mine. Probably mined in the 1980s. See the 1985 Mineralogical Record article in Vol. 16, No.1. Ex Bob Reynolds Collection, a well-known fossil and mineral expert and former Curator of the San Bernardino County Museum. He passed away in 2020. The rare phyllomanganate-chromate species Reynoldsite was named in his honor in 2011. The piece displays well without aid. Hefty mass is 1200 grams or 2.6 pounds. A choice, rich and showy large baryte from the locale.