What is barite？

What is barite

Barite is the most common mineral of barium, and it is composed of barium sulfate. Produced in hydrothermal veins and limestone and limestone weathered clay deposits. The crystals of barite are large tubes, and the crystals sometimes come together to form rosette-shaped or forked clumps, which are called crested barites. Pure barite is colorless and transparent, generally white or light yellow, with vitreous luster. Barite can be used as a white pigment (commonly known as lithopone), and can also be used as a filler in chemical, paper, textile, and glass production. It can act as a flux and increase the brightness of glass. But it is mainly used as a weighting agent in the drilling industry and in the extraction of barium.

Barite is a non-metallic mineral product with barium sulfate (BaSO 4 ) as the main component. Pure barite is white and shiny. Due to the influence of impurities and mixed substances, it is often gray, light red, light yellow, etc. Barite in fairly good condition can also appear as transparent crystals.

Barite has a hardness of 3 to 3.5 (Mohs) and a specific gravity of 4.3 to 4.7. It has the characteristics of large specific gravity, low hardness and brittleness.

Barite is chemically stable, insoluble in water and hydrochloric acid, non-magnetic and toxic.