Unusual Solution Barite from the Linwood Mine, Buffalo, Iowa
Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: PKF-QN3
Date: Apr 19th, 2026
Locality: Linwood Mine, Buffalo, Scott County, Iowa, USA (See on Mindat)
Size: 42 x 29 x 60 mm
Weight: 142 g
Description:
The Linwood Mine, an underground limestone mine in Buffalo, Scott County, Iowa, is known for producing beautiful display quality calcite and barite specimens. This location has also produced some interesting fluorescent specimens as well. This is one such piece. It is a roughly triangular, highly etched, single floater crystal of amber brown baryte from the Linwood mine. This is atypical crystal morphology for the Linwood Mine location. As seen in the photographs below, this specimen is brightly fluorescent and phosphorescent under all UV wavelengths. This piece was collected in mid-2017 from a pocket which contained similar specimens of "solution barite" all having a similar highly solution-etched "dragon skin" appearance and bright fluorescence under UV.
Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2020.
Summary of luminescence responses:
Baryte (Mindat) (RRUFF)
- Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: White
- Afterglow after exposure to Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: Green
- Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: White
- Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: Blue