Witherite

Overview

BaCO3
Fluorescence: blue white under SW and LW	Not Radioactive	Magnetic: no

Description

Physical Properties

Property	Value
Density	4.3 g/cc
Hardness - Mohs	Witherite - 3.0-3.5  10 Diamond 9 Carborundum 8 Topaz 7 Quartz 6 Orthoclase 5 Apatite 4 Fluorite 3 Calcite 2 Gypsum 1 Talc
Color	colorless, white, gray, light yellow, light brown
Streak	white

Crystal Properties

Property	Value
Crystal structure	orthorhombic - dipyramidal
Cleavage	distinct
Tenacity	brittle
Fracture	sub-conchoidal
Luster	vitreous, glassy

Similar Minerals

Dana Number : 14.01.03.02

Class: 14

Group: 14.01

Subgroup: 14.01.03 - aragonite

Dana Number	Mineral Name	Formula
14.01.03.01	aragonite	Ca(CO3)
14.01.03.01	tarnowitzite	Ca(CO3)
14.01.03.02	witherite	BaCO3
14.01.03.03	strontianite	Sr(CO3)
14.01.03.04	cerussite	PbCO3

Nickel-Strunz Number : 05.AB.15

Group : 05

Subgroup : AB

Nickel-Strunz Number	Mineral Name	Formula
05.AB.15	aragonite	Ca(CO3)
05.AB.15	cerussite	PbCO3
05.AB.15	strontianite	Sr(CO3)
05.AB.15	tarnowitzite	Ca(CO3)
05.AB.15	witherite	BaCO3

Specimens

Localities

Uses