Barite

specimen number:
9892107

location:
Les Malines, Occitanie, France

description:
Attractive white bladed crystals of barite across the top of matrix. Classic locality for the species. In terrific condition.

The Les Malines mining district, situated in the Cevennes region of the Gard department in southern France, has a long history of metal extraction dating back to Roman times, with intensive modern industrial operations running from 1885 until final closure in 1993. Geologically, the deposit is classified as a classic Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) lead and zinc orebody, where mineralization occurs primarily as crosscutting replacement bodies and vein networks within Cambrian dolomites and overlying Triassic-to-Jurassic sedimentary cover sequences. Hydrothermal fluid migration driven by regional tectonic events deposited economic concentrations of sphalerite, galena, pyrite, and associated gangue minerals within the reactive carbonate host rocks.

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