Barite with Calcite

specimen number:
2013577

location:
Elk Creek, Meade Co., South Dakota, USA

description:
Classic specimen showing a deep amber colored gemmy terminated crystal of barite 3.2 cm in height coming off of a matrix mostly covered with golden yellow crystallized calcite. This is in really good condition all around. Brightly fluorescent.

The Elk Creek locality in Meade and Lawrence Counties, South Dakota, is world-famous for producing some of the finest golden barite crystals ever discovered. Geologically, these specimens are found within large, iron-stained calcareous concretions, often referred to as septaria, which are hosted in the Cretaceous-aged Pierre Shale. The barite crystals formed through the precipitation of barium-rich fluids within the shrinkage cracks and hollow interiors of these nodules, typically appearing as elongated, gemmy prisms with a distinct honey-yellow to rich amber color. Historically, the locality gained significant attention in the mid-20th century as erosion along the banks and tributaries of Elk Creek exposed the fossiliferous concretions to surface collectors. While never an industrial mine, the area has been a site of intensive specimen mining by private individuals and commercial collectors from the 1970s through to the present day. The most sought-after pieces feature lustrous, transparent barite crystals perched on a contrasting matrix of dark brown, crystalline calcite, making them iconic staples of American mineralogy.

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