What is Barite?
Barite is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate. It most often occurs in hydrothermal veins and as veins in limestones. It is a relatively inert mineral with a high density. It is the primary ore of barium. The most common use of barite is as a weighting agent in drilling muds.
Physical Properties of Barite |
| Color |
colorless, white, light blue, light yellow, light red, light green |
| Streak |
white |
| Luster |
vitreous |
| Diaphaneity |
transparent to translucent |
| Cleavage |
very good, basal, prismatic |
| Mohs Hardness |
2.5 - 3.5 |
| Specific Gravity |
4.5 |
| Distinguishing Characteristics |
high specific gravity, three cleavage directions at right angles, cleavage |
| Chemical Composition |
barium sulfate , BaSO4 |
| Crystal System |
orthorhombic |
Uses of Barite?
Most barite produced is used as a weighting agent in drilling muds. These high density muds are circulated down the drill stem and return to the surface between the drill stem and the wall of the well. This action effectively flushes the cuttings produced by the drill and carries them to the surface. Barite is also used as a pigment in paints and as a weighted filler for paper and cloth. It is the primary ore of barium. Barite's high density makes it opaque to x-rays. If it is given to a patient as a drink or enema it can be used to image the shape of internal organs by x-ray.
| Barite from Edith River, Northern Territory, Australia. Specimen is approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters) across. |
| Barite from Mercur, Utah. Specimen is approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) across. |
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| Barite from Kings Creek, South Carolina. Specimen is approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) across. |
| Barite from Madoc, Ontario, Canada. Specimen is approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) across. |
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