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Witherite is an uncommon mineral, especially since it easily alters to the more common mineral Barite. It alters when sulfuric acid from sulfide minerals dissolves the Witherite, and the sulfur combines with the barium to form Barite. Witherite is also formed from Calcite that loses its calcium, and gets replaced by barium, thus forming Witherite in the process. Witherite was named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in honor of William Withering (1741-1799), an English geologist, chemist, botanist, and physician. Withering is credited with the identification of this mineral as a separate species from Barite. |
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Chemical Formula |
BaCO3 |
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Composition |
Barium carbonate |
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Color |
White, cream, grayish-white, pale yellow, pale green |
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Streak |
White |
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Hardness |
3 - 3.5 |
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Crystal System |
Orthorhombic |
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Crystal Forms
and Aggregates |
Crystals are always almost always twinned, usually in pseudohexagonal trillings that are bipyramidal, resembling bipyramidal hexagons. Crystals may also be elongated pseudohexagonal trillings that are not bipyramidal, and are usually scepter shaped. May also be in bladed or tabular crystals. Most crystals have striations on crystals faces, which sometimes may be deep indentations. Witherite also occurs fibrous, grainy, platy, mammilary, columnar, crusty, massive, and as groups of crystals in layers. |
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Transparency |
Transparent to translucent |
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Specific Gravity |
4.3 - 4.6 |
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Luster |
Vitreous |
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Cleavage |
3,1 - prismatic |
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Fracture |
Uneven |
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Tenacity |
Brittle |
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Other ID Marks |
Fluorescent whitish-blue in shortwave ultraviolet light. |
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Complex Tests |
Soluble and slightly effervescent in cold, diluted, hydrochloric acid, and soluble in sulfuric acid. |
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In Group |
Carbonates; Aragonite group |
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Striking Features |
Heaviness and hardness |
| Environment |
In low temperature hydrothermal lead and Fluorite veins.
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| Rock Type |
Sedimentary |
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Popularity (1-4)
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3 |
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Prevalence (1-3)
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3 |
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Demand (1-3) |
2 |
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Witherite is used in the production of glass. Good crystals of this mineral are highly desirable among collectors.
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There are not many significant localities for Witherite. The two most noteworthy localities are are the deposits in Alston Moor, North Pennines, Cumbria, England; and the Minerva No. 1 Mine, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois. Other occurrences are the Fallowfield and Settlingstones Mines, Acomb, near Hexham, Northumberland, England; the Pigeon Roost Mine, Glenwood, Montgomery Co., Arkansas; El Portal, Mariposa Co., California; and Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
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Strontianite and Aragonite- Lighter in weight.
Cerussite - Heavier, exhibits better cleavage.
Weloganite - Occurs in a different mineral locality.
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Have a question about Witherite? Visit our Q&A Community and ask the experts!
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