Barite & Calcite: Stoneham, Weld County, Colorado USA

Description

Species: Barite, Calcite

Locality: Stoneham, Weld County, Colorado USA

Dimensions: 15 x 13.5 x 5.5 cm.

Stoneham, a small village located in the high plains of northeastern Colorado, is known for it’s beautiful and distinctive sky-blue barite crystals, which are found in fault fractures cutting the paleogene-age White River formation, a tuffaceous claystone. This fine cabinet-size specimen was recovered in the summer 1989 dig, which produced the “Leeson pocket”, generally acknowledged as the most important find ever of blue barite crystals at Stoneham. The sky-blue barites contrast wondefully with the yellow calcite crystal matrix. A true Colorado mineral classic. Ex. Herb Gregor collection. Annette Slade photo.