Barite & Cerussite
Sparkling Barite with “bundles” of peach Cerussite crystals throughout. A unique mineral that we recently purchased from a local collector.
Measurements: ~3-¾" long x 3" wide x 1-½" deep
Location: Morocco
Cerussite, named from the latin word “cerussa” (white), is a lead carbonate mineral and a primary source of lead ore/secondary mineral of lead. Another name for it is “white lead ore”. Collectable specimens are prized for their v-shaped twin crystal formation and their snowflake-like blades.
Barite is a soft mineral that is hard to find in undamaged condition. There are several locations to find barite, but some of the best crystals can be found in England, Nevada, Poland, and China. It is composed of barium sulfate, and gets its name from the Greek word ‘barys’, which means heavy. It is used in industrial settings, as it is used to make drilling mud (used in oil well drilling).