Golden Barite is prized for its high luster and distinct, well-formed tabular or prismatic crystals. It is frequently found in classic hydrothermal lead-zinc deposits where it forms stunning yellow clusters often associated with dark galena or purple fluorite.
Is this golden barite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch golden barite with a known reference. Golden Barite sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Golden Barite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Golden Barite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, golden yellow, amber, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular, prismatic, or bladed crystals.
Often confused with
Golden Barite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside golden barite
Minerals reported to co-occur with golden barite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaSO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 4.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular, Prismatic, Or Bladed Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal and Prismatic
- Fluorescence
- Often Fluorescent Yellow or White Under SW UV
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Specimen
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Sedimentary Limestone Cavities
- Typical price
- $10-100 for small clusters, $200-2000 for large display pieces
Where rockhounds find golden barite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Elmwood, Tennessee, USA
- Rockford, Illinois, USA
- Machow, Poland
- Cave-in-Rock, Illinois, USA
- Romania
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, sedimentary limestone cavities country, the host setting where golden barite typically forms. If you start seeing fluorite, calcite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular, prismatic, or bladed crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in South Dakota. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find golden barite on the map
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