Barite on Calcite with Pyrite
Dachang Ore Field, Nandan
Guangxi Province, China
4.8 x 4.3 x 2.1 CM (miniature)
price: $650
Pre Tucson
A quite usual and attractive gemmy Barite/Calcite combo from the Nandan area (Guangxi, China). We were at this less well-known mining area in 2004 and a few miners had just found these gem clear Barites, some with "Mercedes" style Calcites. We selected the best 20 pieces or so and quickly sold everything We never could get anymore like this and the mine has been closed for a few years. This piece came back to us recently and is ready for a new home. Like most in the find the Barite is not absolutely perfect, there are micro chips most of which are on the backside. It still looks great from most angles but is not for perfectionists. The Calcites make a great contrast and add a lot of interest. They are white flat discoidal type with dark Pyrite lines that create the Mercedes shape. The color and luster of the Barite are excellent and there are phantoms of dark inclusions that are almost certainly Pyrite. The small bits of damage are certainly unfortunate, (we never did find any without at least a little) but they are not a major distraction and keep the price a lot lower than if this was absolutely perfect. An excellent older vintage Chinese piece. The Nandan area had many small mines that were a very interesting source of polymetallic ores and some great specimen minerals. We miss it!
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Barite on Calcite with Pyrite
Dachang Ore Field, Nandan
Guangxi Province, China
4.8 x 4.3 x 2.1 CM (miniature)
price: $650
Pre Tucson
A quite usual and attractive gemmy Barite/Calcite combo from the Nandan area (Guangxi, China). We were at this less well-known mining area in 2004 and a few miners had just found these gem clear Barites, some with "Mercedes" style Calcites. We selected the best 20 pieces or so and quickly sold everything We never could get anymore like this and the mine has been closed for a few years. This piece came back to us recently and is ready for a new home. Like most in the find the Barite is not absolutely perfect, there are micro chips most of which are on the backside. It still looks great from most angles but is not for perfectionists. The Calcites make a great contrast and add a lot of interest. They are white flat discoidal type with dark Pyrite lines that create the Mercedes shape. The color and luster of the Barite are excellent and there are phantoms of dark inclusions that are almost certainly Pyrite. The small bits of damage are certainly unfortunate, (we never did find any without at least a little) but they are not a major distraction and keep the price a lot lower than if this was absolutely perfect. An excellent older vintage Chinese piece. The Nandan area had many small mines that were a very interesting source of polymetallic ores and some great specimen minerals. We miss it!
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