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This specimen features two big crystals on one site and a great number of smaller crystals on the other side. This type of barite is only found in one location in Peru, and is not all the time readily available. Therefore, we consider it rare (***). The biggest crystal shows a bit of damage on one corner (*** = nearly no damage). The aesthetic value of this specimen is considered (**) beautiful. If the crystals were a bit more transparent aesthetics would be better. Nevertheless, this makes for a beautiful specimen from this rare mineral.
If you want to learn more about how we appraise the value of our crystals:
Barite is a barium sulfate mineral (BaSO4), and Peru is known for its beautiful crystals, particularly those found at Cerro Huarihuayín (also pronounced: Warihuyn, Huarihuyn) in the Miraflores District, Huánuco. This barite, a barium sulfate mineral (BaSO4), exhibits a wide range of colors and crystal habits and is sought after by collectors for its aesthetic qualities.
Huánuco barite is known for its wide range of colors, which can include colorless, white, light shades of blue, yellow, grey, and brown. It often forms tabular, fibrous, nodular, or massive crystals and may exhibit perfect cleavage parallel to the base and prism faces.
The barites from Cerro Huarihuayín are glassy and sharp with excellent crystal development, translucent to transparent, and some excellent color (particularly the honey-colored ones). Unlike most of the classic Peruvian localities, this one is not one of the polymetallic mines in the Andes. Rather, this is an occurrence that was discovered and is being worked on by local villagers. The mine has produced thousands of beautiful specimens since 2005. The specific location is remote, and many specimens have been damaged during transport over rough terrain. Most available are damaged to some degree. However, we have access to beautiful specimens.