|
|
 |  |  |  |
Welcome!
Baryte, Belgium
Posted by Harjo Neutkens
|
|
Baryte, Belgium September 25, 2009 09:34PM |
|
Click here to view Barite and here to view Best Minerals B and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.
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
BaSO4 Orthorhombic
Baryte from Belgium
Baryte is quite a common mineral in Belgium. It appears in the deposits of the Moresnet region, in the Devonian and Dinantian limestone, in the Givetian schists and in the coal mining areas.
Some localities have produced excellent display specimens although nowadays finding a display specimen is becoming exceedingly difficult, most of the Baryte encountered in the active quarries is of micro size. On some mine dumps however nice display specimens can still be found but it requires a considerable amount of effort.....
Baryte
Belgium
Hainaut (Henegouwen; Hennegau) Province, Charleroi, Fleurus, Baryte quarry
The Baryte quarry near Fleurus produced nice cockscomb Baryte and cleavable masses for many years until its closure in the 1990s.
Baryte was encountered in sometimes huge 15 to 90 meters large lenses in tertiary sand layers. Fleurus baryte was mainly used in the oil explorations in the North Sea.
[Eric Vercammen]
Baryte
Belgium
Liège Province, Chaudfontaine, Trooz, Carrière de Trooz
Limestone quarry in Trooz, near the town of Chaudfontaine, a well known spa famous in the Benelux for its mineral water.
Occasionally very nice elongated yellow Baryte crystals can be found in Calcite lined vugs.
The quarry is operated by the Holcim group.
Baryte
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Wellin, Fond des Vaulx quarry
Fond des vaulx quarry is an active quarry operating in Devonian limestone. Baryte is encountered in fossil vugs as colourless, yellow or orange tabular crystals up to 2 cm or as cockscomb aggregates.
Locality photo
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Couvin
Couvin quarry is an active quarry operating in Devonian limestone. In the quarry Baryte is quite prolific and is encountered in a wide variety of forms, sometimes very rich in faces. The crystals range from micro size to about 2 cm and are mainly colourless although nice yellow crystals can be found too. Some Baryte crystals have inclusions of elongated Marcasite crystals.
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Philippeville, Doische
The mine near the small village of Doische lies on the South border of Dinant synclinorium in Mesodevonian (Givetian-Frasnian) carbonate series. Very little is known about the history of the mine. A series of diggings follow the Baryte vein from the top of the hill, ending on the valley floor at what is believed to be an old, filled up, shaft.
The mine has always been referred to as a having been an old Baryte mine. I find this very hard to believe, given the fact that the dumps almost entirely consist of Baryte, in untouched parts of the dumps very large chunks of massive Baryte have been found, perfect ore. Another explanation that has been given, was that it used to be a Fluorite mine, like many in the area (the Foisches Fluorite mine is only about 2km from Doische, and are on the same mineralised vein system). However, Fluorite is extremely rare in the dumps, next to none has been found.
Another possibility is that the Baryte vein has been worked for Iron, just like the Quartz veins in the Ardennes. The mud filling the abundant pockets is very rich in Iron. But that's just a thought of mine...
Very nice large cabinet specimens have occasionally been found, but they're very rare. Massive Baryte is abundant, as well as single crystals, that can reach 10 cm in length. A large variety of crystal habits has been observed. Colour ranges from colourless and yellow to green and brown and often elongated Marcasite crystals are included.
Locality photo
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Rochefort, Ave-et-Auffe, Limites quarry
Les Limites quarry is an active quarry operating in Devonian limestone. Baryte is quite common in the quarry. Usually Baryte is found as small white or orange cockscomb aggregates in Calcite lined vugs but occasionally larges crystals can be found. The larger crystals often show a tabular habit and can have a wide variety of colours, colourless, yellow, orange and green. In 2007 I was able to find a Calcite plate hosting 4 cm long yellow Baryte crystals that were partially covered with nice prismatic colourless second generation Baryte crystals.
Collecting in the quarry is now strictly forbidden.
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Rochefort, Ave-et-Auffe, Roptai forest, Baryte mine
Baryte-Fluorite-Galenite vein in Givetian limestone (Frommelennes formation).
The vein has been worked intermittently from 1827 until 1949 [Michel Blondieau, Recherches Minieres, mines et carrieres de famenne, 1997], several remains of the mining activity are still visible, among others a deep incline shaft (70m) and vast dumps.
Nice specimens with "cockscomb" Baryte have been found, sometimes in large plates, either on Fluorite or on massive Baryte vein matrix. Sometimes the Baryte is speckled with small but well formed Cinnabar crystals as well as Chalcopyrite and Pyrite.
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Rochefort, Lavaux-Sainte-Anne, E411 road cut
During the construction of the E411 motorway many fine specimens were find. Baryte was found as cockscom aggregates on Calcite but also as very nice orange tabular crystals that exceeded 2 cm.
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Phillipeville, Villers-en-Fangne
In the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries a lot of mining activity took place around the small town of Villers-en-Fagne, mainly for Baryte and Fluorite.
In the mine of Villers-en-Fagne, Baryte was found in spectacular specimens according to Buttgenbach (1918) and Cesaro (1897). They described Baryte in the form of white cockscomb aggregates, blueish crystals of up to 6 x 2 cm large and as pseudomorphs after Calcite scalenoedrons.
Can anyone help us with photographs and/or information of Baryte specimens from the following localities: Moresnet/Bleiberg, Vierves, Sautour and Lambermont?
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Click here to view Barite and here to view Best Minerals B and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.
Edited 48 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2012 09:14PM by Harjo Neutkens.
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
BaSO4 Orthorhombic
Baryte from Belgium
 | |
| Baryte from Doische, 9x6cm | © Harjo |
Baryte is quite a common mineral in Belgium. It appears in the deposits of the Moresnet region, in the Devonian and Dinantian limestone, in the Givetian schists and in the coal mining areas.
Some localities have produced excellent display specimens although nowadays finding a display specimen is becoming exceedingly difficult, most of the Baryte encountered in the active quarries is of micro size. On some mine dumps however nice display specimens can still be found but it requires a considerable amount of effort.....
Baryte
Belgium
Hainaut (Henegouwen; Hennegau) Province, Charleroi, Fleurus, Baryte quarry
 | |
| Baryte 10cm | © Richard De Nul |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 0,4cm | © Maurice de Graaf |
The Baryte quarry near Fleurus produced nice cockscomb Baryte and cleavable masses for many years until its closure in the 1990s.
Baryte was encountered in sometimes huge 15 to 90 meters large lenses in tertiary sand layers. Fleurus baryte was mainly used in the oil explorations in the North Sea.
[Eric Vercammen]
Baryte
Belgium
Liège Province, Chaudfontaine, Trooz, Carrière de Trooz
 | |
| Baryte FOV 1cm | © L.Bernard |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 1cm | © |
Limestone quarry in Trooz, near the town of Chaudfontaine, a well known spa famous in the Benelux for its mineral water.
Occasionally very nice elongated yellow Baryte crystals can be found in Calcite lined vugs.
The quarry is operated by the Holcim group.
Baryte
Belgium
Luxembourg Province, Wellin, Fond des Vaulx quarry
 | |
| Baryte, Calcite FOV 5cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 0,8cm | © Harjo |
Fond des vaulx quarry is an active quarry operating in Devonian limestone. Baryte is encountered in fossil vugs as colourless, yellow or orange tabular crystals up to 2 cm or as cockscomb aggregates.
Locality photo
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Couvin
 | |
| Baryte FOV 0,6cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 0,8cm | © Harjo |
Couvin quarry is an active quarry operating in Devonian limestone. In the quarry Baryte is quite prolific and is encountered in a wide variety of forms, sometimes very rich in faces. The crystals range from micro size to about 2 cm and are mainly colourless although nice yellow crystals can be found too. Some Baryte crystals have inclusions of elongated Marcasite crystals.
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Philippeville, Doische
 | |
| Baryte, 9cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, 7cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, 18cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, 14cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, 6cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, 4cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, 7cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, 12cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, 3cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, 9cm | © Harjo |
The mine near the small village of Doische lies on the South border of Dinant synclinorium in Mesodevonian (Givetian-Frasnian) carbonate series. Very little is known about the history of the mine. A series of diggings follow the Baryte vein from the top of the hill, ending on the valley floor at what is believed to be an old, filled up, shaft.
The mine has always been referred to as a having been an old Baryte mine. I find this very hard to believe, given the fact that the dumps almost entirely consist of Baryte, in untouched parts of the dumps very large chunks of massive Baryte have been found, perfect ore. Another explanation that has been given, was that it used to be a Fluorite mine, like many in the area (the Foisches Fluorite mine is only about 2km from Doische, and are on the same mineralised vein system). However, Fluorite is extremely rare in the dumps, next to none has been found.
Another possibility is that the Baryte vein has been worked for Iron, just like the Quartz veins in the Ardennes. The mud filling the abundant pockets is very rich in Iron. But that's just a thought of mine...
Very nice large cabinet specimens have occasionally been found, but they're very rare. Massive Baryte is abundant, as well as single crystals, that can reach 10 cm in length. A large variety of crystal habits has been observed. Colour ranges from colourless and yellow to green and brown and often elongated Marcasite crystals are included.
Locality photo
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Rochefort, Ave-et-Auffe, Limites quarry
 | |
| Baryte FOV 4,5cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 0,6cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 0,8cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 0,8cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 0,8cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 0,8cm | © Harjo |
Les Limites quarry is an active quarry operating in Devonian limestone. Baryte is quite common in the quarry. Usually Baryte is found as small white or orange cockscomb aggregates in Calcite lined vugs but occasionally larges crystals can be found. The larger crystals often show a tabular habit and can have a wide variety of colours, colourless, yellow, orange and green. In 2007 I was able to find a Calcite plate hosting 4 cm long yellow Baryte crystals that were partially covered with nice prismatic colourless second generation Baryte crystals.
Collecting in the quarry is now strictly forbidden.
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Rochefort, Ave-et-Auffe, Roptai forest, Baryte mine
 | |
| Baryte, Fluorite FOV 1cm | © Harjo |
 | |
| Baryte, Cinnabar, Fluorite FOV 0,6cm | © Harjo |
Baryte-Fluorite-Galenite vein in Givetian limestone (Frommelennes formation).
The vein has been worked intermittently from 1827 until 1949 [Michel Blondieau, Recherches Minieres, mines et carrieres de famenne, 1997], several remains of the mining activity are still visible, among others a deep incline shaft (70m) and vast dumps.
Nice specimens with "cockscomb" Baryte have been found, sometimes in large plates, either on Fluorite or on massive Baryte vein matrix. Sometimes the Baryte is speckled with small but well formed Cinnabar crystals as well as Chalcopyrite and Pyrite.
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Rochefort, Lavaux-Sainte-Anne, E411 road cut
 | |
| Baryte 2cm | © JDehove |
 | |
| Baryte FOV 1,2cm | © JDehove |
During the construction of the E411 motorway many fine specimens were find. Baryte was found as cockscom aggregates on Calcite but also as very nice orange tabular crystals that exceeded 2 cm.
Baryte
Belgium
Namur Province, Phillipeville, Villers-en-Fangne
 | |
| Baryte 10,5cm | © Paul De Bondt |
 | |
| Baryte, Calcite 6,8cm | © Paul De Bondt |
 | |
| Baryte 16cm | © Dehove |
In the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries a lot of mining activity took place around the small town of Villers-en-Fagne, mainly for Baryte and Fluorite.
In the mine of Villers-en-Fagne, Baryte was found in spectacular specimens according to Buttgenbach (1918) and Cesaro (1897). They described Baryte in the form of white cockscomb aggregates, blueish crystals of up to 6 x 2 cm large and as pseudomorphs after Calcite scalenoedrons.
Can anyone help us with photographs and/or information of Baryte specimens from the following localities: Moresnet/Bleiberg, Vierves, Sautour and Lambermont?
[Harjo Neutkens 2009]
Click here to view Barite and here to view Best Minerals B and here for Best Minerals A to Z and here for Fast Navigation of completed Best Minerals articles.
Edited 48 time(s). Last edit at 02/14/2012 09:14PM by Harjo Neutkens.
|
|
Re: Baryte, Belgium September 26, 2009 10:40AM |
Mindat Lightbox
Mineral and Locality SearchOptions| Fade toolbar when not in focus | Fix toolbar to bottom of page | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hide Social Media Links | |||
| Slideshow frame delay | seconds | ||
