Barite

specimen number:
8701018

location:
Frizington, Cumbria, England, UK

description:
Choice old British classic with bluish green to reddish lustrous mostly gemmy crystals of barite to almost 6.0 cm in height coming off of a brecciated hematite rich matrix with white dolomite crystals. Slight damage present as seen, this still very good for such an old specimen.

Frizington, located in the West Cumberland iron ore district of Cumbria, England, is a world-renowned locality for some of the finest barite specimens ever discovered. Geologically, the area sits on the edge of the Lake District massif, where iron-rich hydrothermal fluids replaced Carboniferous Limestones to form massive hematite deposits, with barite occurring as a later-stage mineral in open cavities and faults. The barite from Frizington is celebrated for its diverse crystal habits, ranging from tabular to prismatic, and its exceptional clarity or delicate coloration in shades of honey-yellow, sky-blue, and smoky brown. Historically, mining and quarrying in the Frizington area, including famous operations like the Parkside, Mowbray, and Holebeck mines, began in the mid-19th century and reached a peak between 1870 and 1920. While the mines were primarily operated for high-grade hematite to support the British steel industry, miners frequently salvaged spectacular barite groups that are now centerpiece specimens in museums globally. Commercial mining in the immediate Frizington vicinity declined after World War I, with most major operations closing by the 1930s and 1940s as the ore bodies were exhausted.

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