BARITE CRYSTALS - Sheppey, Kent
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on calcite
Isle of Sheppey, Kent
on calcite
Isle of Sheppey, Kent
On the north coast of the Isle of Sheppey in Kent the London Clay cliffs contain large ‘septarian nodules’, which contain cracks lined with calcite. Beautiful white or translucent crystals of barite are found perched on the calcite. This specimen is a good example.
Septarian nodules are round concretions containing a network of internal cracks that have been filled with minerals, particularly brown and yellow calcite. No traces of the cracks are visible on the surface of the nodule. The cracks are called ‘septa’ from the Latin word septum or ‘partition’, which gives the nodules their name. Despite much research by scientists, the process that created these objects remains a mystery.
Septarian nodules are round concretions containing a network of internal cracks that have been filled with minerals, particularly brown and yellow calcite. No traces of the cracks are visible on the surface of the nodule. The cracks are called ‘septa’ from the Latin word septum or ‘partition’, which gives the nodules their name. Despite much research by scientists, the process that created these objects remains a mystery.
Click on a picture for a larger image
Size: 10 x 7 x 6 centimetres
Weight: 572 grams
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