Can you help make this a better article? What good localities have we missed? Can you supply pictures of better specimens than those we show here? Can you give us more and better information about the specimens from these localities? Can you supply better geological or historical information on these localities?
Here are some notes about Baryte from Namibia that may be useful to whoever writes this article.
Namibia
Brukoros Mountains. “African Gems and Minerals had some new barites and epidotes from Namibia, too. The barites are all single, lightly frosted, prismatic crystals that average 5-10 cm long. They are pale honey-yellow color, and come from hydrothermal veins associated with a volcanic deposit in the Brukoros Mountains.”1
1. Mineralogical Record, What’s New in Minerals, Vol. 18, 1987, p.367.
Ask Clive if he knows this locality and how much was dug.
Perhaps you can track down African Gems and Mienrals.
Keetmanshoop, Brucheros. “Other finds in Namibia include barite in yellow-brown opaque crystals to 10 cm from Brucheros, north of Keetmanshoop, available from Don and Gloria Olson…”1
1. Mineralogical Record, What’s New in Minerals, Vol. 21, 1990, p.490.
Ask Don Olson about this find and for a better locality.
Rosh Pinah Mine. “Bruce Carincross has reported that the Rosh Pinah mine, located in southern Namibia, recently produced some very find golden orange barite and marcasite specimens…”1 “10 cm deep gold spray of “chisel” crystals to 4.5 cm (see twin in Sacco Collection book). Also 7 cm spray of very thin lighter gold blades. Both scarce.”2
1. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 20, 1989, p.397. 2 Bill Dameron, personal communication, 2003, description of a specimen in his collection.
Ask Bruce about the locality and these crystals.
Tsumeb. “Forms yellow and amber to brown and dark brown crystals mostly in the areas between a depth of 100 and 300 m. Crystals to 5 cm have been found but the mineral is nevertheless uncommon. Associations commonly include smithsonite or galena.”1 The Tsumeb issue sited below shows a picture with fine, yellow transparent 5mm crystals. In the dozen or so trips I made to the locality I don’t think I ever saw a specimen of barite. Tsumeb is a fabulous locality for many minerals, but barite is not one of them.
1. Mineralogical Record, Vol. 8, 1977, p.19.
Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.
