Barite, Quartz & Pyrite (Robert Whitmore Coll.)

Item Description

Barite was a widespread, but relatively uncommon gangue mineral at Butte. This showy and excellent combination piece features glassy, tabular, cream-colored, barite crystals proudly standing upright and beautifully accented by obelisks of needle quartz. The matrix underneath the quartz is mainly pyrite (that iridescent flash is bornite coating pyrite) and we believe the black crystals hidden behind the barite are chalcocite. Classic and uncommon, older material from these famed locale. Ex Robert Whitmore Butte suite.