Baryte, Congo, Democratic Republic of

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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?


Baryte, Congo, Democratic Republic of
BaSO₄ Orthorhombic
Here will go a good picture of a Baryte from the Congo and general remarks about the Baryte from this country. Here are some url's to some of the better Congolese Baryte specimens here on Mindat that can be considered for inclusion in the article. These, in most cases are just for temporary use until we can get images of the much better specimens that are almost certainly out there. We should also consider that there are probably localities out there with fine specimens that are not even mentioned on Mindat. Also in some instances there are sometimes pictures on Mindat, of specimens from a locality, but they were so ratty that I did not include them here, but there may also be really good specimens from there that we should talk about in this article.



Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
[www.mindat.org]

Shangulowé Mine, Kambove, Central area, Katanga Copper

Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of

Congo (Zaïre)
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Mashamba West Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga

Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic

of Congo (Zaïre)
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]
[www.mindat.org]

Kipushi Mine (Prince Léopold Mine), Kipushi, Katanga

(Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
[www.mindat.org]


Here are some notes about DRC Baryte that the person writing this article may find helpful.

Congo, The Republic of the. (Zaire)
Katanga. has produces some nice Barite and on Malachite combinations, but almost all that are offered on the market are heavily damaged. The one pictured here in the collection of the University of Paris is a good one, but not the best. Many of the more recent specimens have Barites that are more tabular and delicate. If political conditions change enough to allow large scale mining to resume in the Congo, there will be many wonderful specimen from these copper mines.

Congo, Republic of the
Kolwezi, Mashamba West Mine. “Some nice vugs of barite have been recovered which contain beautiful, transparent yellow or honey-colored crystals 2.4 cm, associated with malachite, cuprite and/or cobaltoan calcite. Most of the yellow barite is opaque and butterscotch-yellow to caramel-brown in color. The crystals have a relatively simple prismatic habit, sometimes occurring in attractive color combinations. Some colorless and transparent crystals to less than 1 cm have been found on malachite. Of particular interest are the multiphase pseudomorphs after barite. Most of the barite of the Mashamba West mine has been replaced by bright green malachite covered by pale-blue, earthy chrysocolla. The pseudomorph specimens have a rosette-cluster shape consisting of 3 to 5 cm blades up to 1 cm thick. The epimorphic coatings of chrysocolla are rounded.”1
1 Mineralogical Record, Vol. 22, 1991, p 17.

Katanga, Mulungwishi, Shangulowe Mine. “Translucent tabular crystals to 2 + cm w/malachite inclusions, pale green, undamaged 5 cm group. Also chisel point xls in parallel, 3.5 cm. Occurs in larger xls, usually not as gemmy. Common.”1
1 Bill Dameron, personal communication, 2003, describing specimens in is collection.



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Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2010 07:11AM by Rock Currier.

Hi Rock,

Very nice article on Congo Baryte.

There is just that a frequently made error sneaked in.

Mashamba Baryte is yellow to amber.
To my knowledge, no green specimens where recovered.
The paragenesis is also very different.
At Shangulowe, Baryte was associated almost essentially with Malachite.
At Mashamba on the other hand, Baryte was most frequently associated with Cobaltoan Calcite and Metatyuyamunite or Malachite coloured country rock.
I observed flats of them and the Shangulowe and the Mashamba are very distinct. SH had chissel formed XX with a square section and Mash where flat.
Surprisingly, the " mislabeled " Mashamba specimens looks very hard like the Shangulowe ones.
From my experience, I think all the green ones are mislabeled.

Sorry.

Take care and best regards.

Paul.

Paul, thanks for you comments about Barytes from the Congo. When the article is written I am sure they will be included and we may get back to you with more questions.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.

You'r welcome Rock

Paul.

Here is a gem of a piece, a floater, among the best from Mashamba West. See in my photo gallery with details. Excellent Barite from Mashamba West, Congo Bill



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/29/2010 04:41PM by William H (Bill) Dameron.

Nice specimen. Wonder what went through the crusher.

Rock Currier
Crystals not pistols.