重晶石
Barite is a sulfate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with several world-class Chinese localities.
基本资料
| 化学式 | BaSO₄ |
|---|---|
| IMA 代号 | Brt |
| 施特龙茨分类 | 7.AD |
| 晶系 | 斜方晶系 |
| 点群 | mmm |
| 收藏级别 | 适合陈列 |
| 模式产地 | Anglesey, UK |
Barite (BaSO₄) is barium sulfate and the principal ore of barium. Its distinctive heaviness — specific gravity 4.5 makes it heavy for a non-metallic mineral — and tabular orthorhombic habit make it a classic collector species. China is a major Barite producer, with Hunan and Guizhou hosting both industrial-grade and collector-quality deposits, including blue Barite from Stoneham (Colorado) analogs at Hunan localities.
Notable Chinese localities
Hunan and Guizhou are China’s major Barite producers, with collector-grade tabular and rosette specimens. Frizington (UK) and Cavnic (Romania) are classic European sources.
Chinese barite — localities in detail
China’s best-known collectable barite comes from the Dexing copper district in Jiangxi — honey-golden to amber tabular and bladed crystals in radiating clusters, often with chalcopyrite or pyrite — and from Yichun and various Hunan and Guizhou deposits. Colour saturation, crystal sharpness, undamaged edges, and an intact matrix drive value. The finest Dexing honey-barite came from pockets worked in the 2010s and is now in declining supply.
