Typically found in Morocco (Mibladen and Touissit, world-renowned localities), Mexico, and the United States (Arizona), this is an association in which vanadinite crystals grow on a barite matrix. Vanadinite is a lead vanadate of the apatite group, a secondary mineral that forms in the oxidation zone of lead deposits in arid environments through a reaction between altered galena and vanadium-rich solutions. It occurs as short hexagonal prisms of intense red-orange color, with a resinous luster, a hardness of 3–4 on the Mohs scale, and a high density (6.8–7.1 g/cm³). The host barite, a barium sulfate of hydrothermal origin, has a hardness of 3–3.5 on the Mohs scale and a density of 4.5 g/cm³.

This specimen is highly sought after by collectors for the color contrast between the red-orange vanadinite and the light-colored barite matrix; vanadinite is a minor mineral composed of vanadium and lead; it contains lead, so it should be handled with caution and avoided in everyday objects.