Barite with Chalcopyrite

specimen number:
2292345

location:
Dreislar Mine, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

description:
A colorless to pinkish bladed crystallized barite hosting golden crystals of chalcopyrite. Classic material for this German locality. In good condition.

The Dreislar Mine, located in the Sauerland region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, was a major source of barite that operated from the mid-twentieth century until its closure in 2008. Geologically, the deposit sits within the Dreislar Fault, where Paleozoic sedimentary rocks were fractured by tectonic movements, creating open fissures. Hydrothermal fluids circulating through these faults at temperatures between 70 and 140 degrees Celsius deposited mineral veins, primarily consisting of heavy, high-purity barite alongside sulfide minerals. While early mining attempts starting in the late eighteenth century targeted metallic ores, the economic value of the site shifted in 1909 when industrial demand for barite led to dedicated mining operations. Under the management of Sachtleben Chemie starting in 1957, Dreislar developed into one of the most modern barite mines in Europe, producing industrial minerals for nearly fifty years while simultaneously yielding distinctive, collectible specimens of pink and white bladed barite overgrown with brassy chalcopyrite crystals.

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