Barite with Marcasite Crystals (Jiangxi, China)

Barite is a soft mineral that is hard to find in undamaged condition. There are several locations to find barite, but some of the best crystals can be found in England, Nevada, Poland, and China.  It is composed of barium sulfate, and gets its name from the Greek word ‘barys’, which means heavy. It is used in industrial settings, as it is used to make drilling mud (used in oil well drilling).