3" Double-Terminated Barite Crystal Cluster - Linwood Mine, Iowa

The Linwood Mine has been in operation since 1944: to this day, it ranks as one of the largest limestone mining locations in the United States. On relatively rare occasions, a vug containing minerals will be opened in the mining process, which are then extracted and saved. These vugs often contain beautiful crystal aggregations of calcite, barite, and marcasite, some of which are considered world-class quality specimens.

Barite, commonly spelled baryte, is well-known for its great range of colors and varied crystal forms and habits. = It is a heavy mineral consisting of barium sulfate, and typically has the chemical formula of BaSO4. The barite group consists of baryte, celestine, anglesite, and anhydrite. It is generally white to colorless and is the main source of barium.