Barium carbonate that is relatively rare but important as a barium ore. Quite heavy for a carbonate mineral. Color: White, yellowish, grayish. Luster: Vitreous to resinous. Streak: White. Cleavage: Good in two directions. Hardness: 3-3.5. Transparency: Translucent. Crystal system: Orthorhombic. Chemical formula: BaCO₃. Specific gravity: 4.29. Formation: Forms in low-temperature hydrothermal veins, often associated with galena and barite. Common geological settings: England Northumberland , USA, Germany; found in hydrothermal lead-zinc veins. Common look-alikes and related entries: Barite, Cerussite, Strontianite. Specimen safety: Keep this barium carbonate specimen intact. Do not cut, grind, polish, streak, lick, or use acid on it. Avoid creating or breathing dust, wash your hands with soap and water after handling, and keep it away from food, children, and pets.
These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:37:02.752347+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.
Barium carbonate compound summary — National Library of Medicine PubChem. Authoritative chemical and hazard information for barium carbonate, including ingestion hazards.
Barium carbonate that is relatively rare but important as a barium ore. Quite heavy for a carbonate mineral.
How can you identify Witherite?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: White, yellowish, grayish; lustre: Vitreous to resinous; streak: White; Mohs hardness: 3-3.5; cleavage: Good in two directions; crystal system: Orthorhombic; transparency: Translucent. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Witherite form?
Forms in low-temperature hydrothermal veins, often associated with galena and barite.
Where is Witherite commonly found?
England Northumberland , USA, Germany; found in hydrothermal lead-zinc veins.
Is Witherite safe to handle?
Keep this barium carbonate specimen intact. Do not cut, grind, polish, streak, lick, or use acid on it. Avoid creating or breathing dust, wash your hands with soap and water after handling, and keep it away from food, children, and pets. Avoid creating dust or using destructive tests on an unknown specimen, and follow site-specific safety procedures.
What is Witherite commonly confused with?
Witherite may be confused with Barite, Cerussite, Strontianite. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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