Formula: BaCa(CO3)2
Anhydrous normal carbonate, the monoclinic paramorph of triclinic
alstonite and trigonal
paralstonite, barium-bearing
mineral.
Barytocalcite is epitaxial on baryte, and
calcite is epitaxial on barytocalcite
(Dana).
Baryte and quartz
pseudomorphs after barytocalcite have been observed
(Mindat).
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 3.66 to 3.71 measured, 3.65 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: White
Colour: Colourless, white, greyish, greenish, light yellow
Solubility: Soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid
Environments
Carbonatites rarely
Metamorphic environments
Hydrothermal environments
Barytocalcite is a relatively uncommon accessory mineral in metallic veins, formed by reaction of hydrothermal
fluids with limestone, although it may be the dominant
barium-bearing species;
it occurs rarely in carbonatites and Alpine veins. Associated
minerals include
baryte,
calcite, strontianite,
siderite, alstonite,
benstonite, witherite,
norsethite, fluorite,
sphalerite, pyrrhotite and
quartz
(HOM).
Localities
At the Tolecheinski deposit, Krasnoyark region, Siberia, Russia, barytocalcite occurs in
baryte ore
(Dana).
At Långban, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden, barytocalcite occurs with
hedyphane and hausmannite
(Dana).
At the type locality, the Blagill Mine, Alston Moor, Eden, Cumbria, England, UK, barytocalcite occurs in veins
in limestone associated with
fluorite,
calcite and baryte
(Mindat).
In the Alston block of the Northern Pennine Orefield, England, UK, barytocalcite is widely distributed. it is
usually associated with witherite
(JRS 17.43.
At Brownley Hill, Nenthead, Alston Moor, Eden, Cumbria, England, UK, barytocalcite has been found in minute
traces epitaxial on nailhead calcite, commonly associated with
alstonite. Barytocalcite and
alstonite both crystallise after
calcite, and
it appears probable that barytocalcite is earlier than alstonite
(Minrec 31.3.242-243).
At the Rorrington mine, Chirbury, Shelve, Shropshire, England, UK, barytocalcite has been found in a cavity in
baryte-witherite veinstone
(RES 287).
The Holwell quarry, Broomfield, Somerset, England, UK, is the only locality in the Mendips where barytocalcite had
been conclusively identified by 1990. It occurred in a single small area as aggregates of small platy crystals within
calcite lined vugs in manganese
oxides
(JRS 13.17).
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