Baryte, also known as barite or even barytes, is a beautiful and diverse mineral prized by collectors for its wide range of colours, crystal habits, and associations. From transparent golden blades to rich blue tabular crystals, it occurs in many of the world’s great mineral localities, often forming striking specimens alongside fluorite, galena, and quartz.
Its combination of high lustre, varied form, and attractive hues has made baryte one of the most collectible minerals. The following list highlights twenty of the best-known and finest baryte localities worldwide—each renowned for producing specimens of exceptional beauty, colour, or historical significance.
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La Libertad, Lima & Huánuco, Peru – These modern Peruvian locations produce sharp, gemmy golden-yellow to amber baryte crystals often arranged in elegant sprays or parallel groups on a limestone matrix. The clarity, size, and perfection of these crystals have made them highly sought after worldwide.
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Elk Creek, Meade County, South Dakota, USA – Known for its striking honey-gold transparent baryte crystals perched on a calcite or pyrite matrix. The crystals display exceptional lustre and form, often with dramatic contrast against dark rock. Specimens from this locality are among the most aesthetic barytes ever found in North America.
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Cavnic Mine, Maramureș, Romania – Produces attractive tabular to blocky baryte crystals in shades of pale blue, grey, red and colourless, commonly associated with galena, sphalerite, and quartz. These specimens exemplify the fine combination pieces that made Romanian minerals famous in the mid-20th century.
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Frizington, Cumbria, England – A historic locality that has yielded exceptionally fine baryte since the 19th century. The crystals are typically colourless, pale honey or blue and are often large, lustrous, and transparent. Old specimens with vintage labels are especially prized by collectors of British classics.
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N’Chwaning Mines, Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa – Famous for its orange- to reddish-brown baryte crystals, sometimes zoned or translucent. The contrast against the black manganese matrix and the superb lustre make these specimens among the most striking barytes ever discovered.
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Baia Sprie, Maramureș, Romania – Produces both blue and deep-red baryte crystals, often in association with sulfides like galena and sphalerite. Of particular interest are extended feather-like aggregates. The rich colour and complex associations reflect the complex mineralisation of the region and are characteristic of Romanian mineralogy.
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Mibladen, Midelt, Morocco – One of the most prolific baryte localities in the world, known for orange-brown and golden tabular forms. The specimens, often with hematite overgrowths, have become modern classics and are still being found in excellent quality.
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Berbes, Asturias, Spain – Renowned for pure white, gemmy baryte crystals, frequently associated with purple fluorite. The fluorite transparency, sharp form, and colour contrast between the two minerals make Berbes specimens among the most beautiful barytes known.
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Meikle Mine, Elko County, Nevada, USA – Produced some of the largest and most lustrous tabular baryte crystals ever found. Transparent golden blades up to 20 cm occur on matrix, and the combination of size, colour, and brilliance has made Meikle baryte world famous.
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Styrian Erzberg, Styria, Austria – This classic European iron mine produced elegant, colourless to white baryte crystal groups on an iron oxide matrix, most often siderite. These specimens have been collected since the 19th century and are valued for their historical importance and delicate crystal forms.
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Ojuela Mine, Mapimí, Durango, Mexico – A classic locality known for golden and brown baryte rosettes associated with mimetite and goethite; historically significant Mexican material.
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Bou Nahas Mine, Oumjrane, Morocco – A newer Moroccan locality producing vibrant yellow to reddish-brown baryte crystals with high lustre, frequently accompanied by a dark sulfide matrix. The contrast and colour intensity have made Bou Nahas baryte a collector favourite.
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Les Malines District, Gard, France – Yields tabular blue, honey, brown, and colourless baryte crystals associated with galena, pyrite and fluorite. French barytes from this district are known for their symmetry, silky lustre, and pastel tones, often preserved in fine museum collections.
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Xiefang Mine, Jiangxi Province, China – Modern Chinese baryte from this locality exhibits sharp, gemmy, golden-yellow crystals up to 10 cm, often on a contrasting white quartz matrix. These well-formed crystals helped establish China as a major source of world-class baryte specimens.
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Hartsel, Park County, Colorado, USA – Pale blue-grey to white and also green baryte crystals associated with limestone; fine examples of western U.S. baryte beauty.
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Elmwood, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee, USA – Known for its large white spherical aggregates of fine-crystalline baryte frequently upon purple crystalline fluorite or sphalerite. These combinations are exceedingly aesthetic and very highly collectible. Arguably the most desirable USA material.
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Pohla Mine, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany – A notable European source for baryte, yielding lustrous, gemmy, golden crystals with fine sharp edges. The specimens often feature attractive crystal groupings and are typical of high-grade Erzgebirge material.
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Madan Ore Field, Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria – Produces white to light-blue baryte crystals associated with galena and pyrite in attractive metallic contrast. Bulgarian baryte specimens are excellent combination pieces and represent some of the best recent European finds.
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Linwood Mine, Buffalo, Iowa, USA – Now a well-known U.S. baryte source, producing large golden, gemmy, transparent crystals up to several centimetres long, often on calcite. The brilliance and colour rival those from Meikle, making Linwood a premier American baryte locality.
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Jebel Ouichane, Nador Province, Morocco – A relatively new Moroccan occurrence yielding gemmy, sky-blue crystals with superb lustre and transparency. The rare colour, high transparency, and excellent crystal form have quickly made this locality a modern classic.
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