barita

Barita, also known as barite or baryte, is a mineral composed of barium sulfate (BaSO4). It is the most common source of barium and the principal ore of the element, used in a range of industrial applications. Barite typically forms in sedimentary and hydrothermal environments and occurs as crystals, nodules, or massive beds.

Barite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system. Crystals are tabular or prismatic; color is usually white, gray, or colorless, but impurities can give yellow, brown, blue, or other tints. It has a high specific gravity of 4.3–4.6 and a Mohs hardness of 3–3.5. The mineral is inert and insoluble in water, and only slightly soluble in hot acids.

Barite occurs in sedimentary rocks as concretions and nodules, in hydrothermal veins, and with other ore deposits. Major producers include China, India, Morocco, the United States, Peru, and Mexico.

The principal use of barite is as a weighting agent in drilling muds for oil and gas operations, providing density to the fluid. It is also processed into barium sulfate for radiographic contrast in medicine, and used as a filler in paints, paper, plastics, rubber, and glass.

The name barite derives from the Greek barys, meaning heavy. The mineral is variably spelled barite or baryte; in Spanish it is commonly called barita.

Barite itself is largely non-toxic, but its associated barium compounds can be toxic if soluble. Inhalation of dust should be avoided; medical-grade barium sulfate used for imaging is insoluble and considered safe.