Introduction:

paracelsian, a polymorph of celsian, is a rare barium feldspar mineral with only a few occurrences known World-wide. Well crystallised material is known from only one locality, that being the occurrence in Wales.

Occurrence in Wales:

paracelsian was first described in 1905 from Candoglia, Valle d'Ossola, Piedmont, Italy. Six years later, Russell (1911), suggested that a specimen of celsian from North Wales, presented to him by G.J. Williams, former Assistant Inspector for Metalliferous Mines and Quarries for the North Wales and Ireland Division, contained a second, dimorphous form of the feldspar. A full description of this material from Benallt Mine, Pen Llŷn, was provided much later by Spencer (1942). He described paracelsian associated with celsian in a band in Ordovician shales and sandstones associated with lavas, tuffs, and beds of black manganese ore. This is the only occurrence of paracelsian known from Wales, and is also the first, and only known UK occurrence.

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