BaryteThese are some of the best quality Baryte crystals that Ive seen from Muddy Creek, not to mention the habit that is so incredibly eye catching. This small miniature specimen features hundreds of sharp, rather lustrous, very well formed, snow white blades of Baryte forming a beautiful flower shaped group. The added touch to the piece is that there is a slight blue color that can be seen in one of the topmost crystals. This blue shade is rather rare in

Specimen # BROOK31907

bladed crystals of what were once Azurite and later replaced by Native Copper

The piece was certainly difficult to photograph

regardless of quality or quantity

and until very recently

but these crystals are found in hydrothermal tin veins where there is an absolute absence of Thorium (usually a trace element in Monazite)

You can’t get these pieces anymore

This twin is a great example of the material as it shows a fairly “open” twin

It's rare to find both sharp

I will say that this is certainly one of the more aesthetic crystal groups from this find

This piece showcases the largest colorless to white Calcite rhombehedra that I have seen from this locality with excellent

and a nice change of pace from the other Leadville pieces that have the rich golden hue that we’re used to seeing