Mineral - Baryte
Baryte
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Sulphates
Toxicity
none
Formula
Ba[SO₄]
Unit Cell
a=8.88 b=5.46 c=7.16 Z=4
Physical Properties
Hardness
3 - 3.5
Streak
white
Density
Heavy (3,5-6)
Cleavage
Perfect after {001}, distinct after {210}, indistinctly after {010}
Fracture
uneven
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
whiteblackgrayredyellowbluecolorless
Birefringence
0.012
Luster
Vitreous,
Greasy
Transparency
translucent,
transparent,
opaque
Pleochroism
X = Gelb-Braun-Blau
Y = Braun-Grün-Gelb
Z = Violett-Braun
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
orthorhombic
Point Group
orthorhombic-dipyramidal - 2/m 2/m 2/m
Space Group
Pnma (62)
Habit
leafy, blocky, coarse, spherical, massive, kidney-shaped, prismatic, rosette, spear-shaped, Rhombohedral, prismatic, tabular
Formation
In hydrothermal ore deposits; in VHMS deposits
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Very common
Synonyms
Baryte
Composition
Elements
Mass
SO₃
34.21
CaO
0.05
BaO
65.35
Czech Republic (Palache et al. 1952)
Groups and Members
Baryte-Group
Name and first discovery: Named after
Chemism:
Synonyms:
Varieties:
Abbreviation: By
Literature
Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1952). Dana's system of mineralogy. GeologiskaFöreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 74(2), 218-219.