These photos of Barite and Boltwoodite are to enjoy the wonderful mineral crystal gems from Namibia. This is not a blog with facts about minerals and crystals, you can find excellent information in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Like any hobby the collection of minerals can be divided into different topics, I prefer whatever is pretty to me.

Barite (Bariumsulfate) also spelled Baryte and known as Heavy Spar, contains the heavy mineral barium. It is ground up and used in ao. paint, but although it is a heavy mineral it is not considered poisonous due to it being extremely insoluble.

The radiating form of Barite (known as Bologna Stone) is much sought after. I did not expect the radiation to show up on a photo, but take a close look at the light yellow-green glow over the crystals. It is more obvious in the crystals to the top right on the photo.

Boltwoodite (Hydrated Potassium Uranyl Silicate Hydroxide - I looked it up. I do not care to remember all that). The bright yellow, prismatic crystals of boltwoodite can be seen on the photo left.

Keep in mind that Boltwoodite is radioctive.

Mineral crystals, gems from Namibia.
These photos are to enjoy the wonderful mineral gems from Namibia. This is not a blog with facts about minerals and crystals, you can find excellent information in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Like any hobby the collection of minerals can be divided into different topics such as country, sulfides, silicates amongst others as well as a collection of only large, or small crystals (the very small ones are often pure perfect crystals).
I prefer whatever is pretty to me.




The clean effect of the Aragonite crystals does not show well on a photo.



Nature went overboard creating blue in Azurite. Here are a few views. This mineral has been treasured from ancient times and probable even before that. I can imagine any human female would like these crystals, no matter how primitive her background is.








Azurite is a copper mineral which will weather into malachite. Azurite can be destroyed by heat into copper oxide a black powder. That will be a pity!