Baryte on Fluorite

The Pöhla-Tellerhäuser mine was a major producer of uranium and operated until 1990, then situated in East Germany. The orebody has a complex history formed from early skarns later followed by greisenization (injection of hot metal-rich gases) and then hydrothermal deposition. Amongst the 102 mineral species recorded from this locality, one of the most aesthetic is Baryte and here we have a superb example. Gemmy, golden-yellow Baryte crystals to almost 2 cm long entirely cover an underlying matrix of leaf green and greyish-fawn Fluorite. The Baryte has mirror-like faces, all with a brilliant glassy lustre, making a beautiful display specimen fit for any specialist collection of German minerals. The Pöhla-Tellerhäuser mine is in the Schwarzenberg District of Saxony, Germany.