Blue Baryte – Frizington Mine

Specimens of blue baryte from Frizington Mine, Frizington, Cumbria, UK. Baryte (also spelt barite) is a widely occurring mineral consisting of barium sulphate, they can occur with many crystal habits, in this case, these mineral specimens exhibit the cockscomb mass form, in which randomly orientated blades of the mineral occur on a massive bed. Any barite specimen is incredibly dense, with small pieces even feeling heavier than they appear, which is surprising, considering it is a non metallic mineral. This density was how the mineral obtained its name, being derived from the Greek word ‘βάρυζ’ meaning heavy. It occurs in a range of environments and deposited via many processes including biogenic, hydrothermal and evaporation, among others. These particular specimens of baryte are pale blue in colour and are within a matrix of massive brown dolomite, giving the pieces a wonderful contrast between colours. The samples are supplied in a white card tray with an information label and are an ideal piece for any British mineral collection.