Barium sulfate                                                                                                                Hardness 3-31/2

Barite occurs in almost every color in natural light, but its fl is most commonly white, cream or yellow. It often has a cream or pale green ph. The great density of barite (specific gravity 4.5) is one of its  distinguishing features and barito has been called "heavy spar" by the miners

An unusual barite with a very rich golden orange fl and ph both SW and LW has been found at Hot Springs, North Carolina. Barite with a dull blue-white fl and also a bright cream-white fl has been found at Franklin, New Jersey. The cream fl barite grains scattered in red calcite make very attractive specimens. Barite crystals with white fl have been found at a number of localities.

Palos Verdes, California has produced clusters of white cockscomb crystals which fl and ph. In the Badlands area of South Dakota transparent brown crystals which fl white are found associated with yellow calcite crystals in pockets in large concretions. The calcite fl cream or white, best LW.

At the Settlingstones Mine, Fourstones, England has been found excellent clusters of white fl barite crystals.


Magnesium hydroxide                                                                                                       Hardness 21/2

This soft mineral is often platy or fibrous in form and frequently fl bright blue-white. Fl Brucite has come from the Tilly Foster mine, Brewster, New York and from Woods Chrome Mine, Texas, Pennsylvania.


Calcium carbonate                                                                                                                 Hardness 3

Calcite is the most common fl mineral and it reacts in a wide variety of colors. The "Red-Pink" descriptive section has more information on fl calcite.

Calcite which fl white is not unusual and is particularly common in caves where the stalactites and stalagmites will frequently fl white. These calcites will usually fl both LW and SW, but they are generally best LW. A brief cream white or green-white ph is usual.

Fine crystallized calcites which fl white are found at Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico and Bound Brook, New Jersey. Calcite crystals which fl cream are found in cavities in concretions in the Badlands section of South Dakota.

Calcite or aragonite in the form of travertine and marble will often fl white.