2.2" Tabular, Blue Barite Crystal Cluster - Spain

This is a beautiful specimen of thick, tabular, blue barite crystals from Spain. Based in similar specimens I believe these came from the Teresita mine near Murcia but I'm not confident.

Barite sometimes spelled Baryte (Barium sulfate) is well-known for its great range of colors and varied crystal habits. It is easily identifiable by its heavy weight, since most similar minerals are much lighter. It occurs in a large number of depositional environments, and is deposited through a large number of processes including biogenic, hydrothermal, and evaporation, among others