The mineral Barite

Chemical Formula

BaSO₄

Composition

Barium sulfate, sometimes with small amounts of strontium

Variable Formula

(Ba,Sr)SO₄

Color

Colorless, white, yellow, orange, red, brown, blue, gray; sometimes multicolored and banded

Streak

White

Hardness

3 - 3½

Crystal Forms
and Aggregates

(Orthorhombic) Most commonly as twinned crystals, which can be quite large. Also occurs tabular, prismatic, and as grainy, platy, and coxcomb aggregates. May also be massive, nodular, fibrous, stalactitic, and as perfect rosettes.

Transparency

Transparent to translucent in thin splinters

Specific Gravity

4.3 - 4.6

Luster

Vitreous to pearly

Cleavage

1,1 - basal ; 2,1 - prismatic ; 3,1 - pinacoidal

Fracture

Uneven

Tenacity

Brittle

Other ID Marks

Commonly fluorescent in a variety of colors, and sometimes also phosphorescent

Other Names

Baryte,

Heavy Spar

Varieties

Bologna Stone - Nodular, radiating, or massive Barite from Bologna, Italy, that is phosphorescent

Desert Rose - Rosette Barite with sand inclusions

In Group

Sulfates ; Anhydrous sulfates

All About

Barite is easily identifiable by its heavy weight, since most similar minerals are much lighter. Barite often replaces other minerals, and may even replace organic materials such as wood, shells, and fossils. It sometimes forms tufacious mounds from deposition of hot, barium-rich springs. Barite specimens from certain locations are brown from sand inclusions, and may occur in rosette aggregates that strikingly resemble a flower.

Barite is isomorphous with Celestine, and may partially replace it.

Uses

Barite is the main ore of barium. It is also important in the manufacture of paper, glass, rubber. A rich, white pigment is made from crushed Barite. Barite is also used in radiology for x-rays of the digestive system. When crushed, it is added to mud to form barium mud, which is poured into oil wells during drilling.

Barite is a very popular mineral among mineral collectors and fine specimens are greatly sought after.

Striking Features

Heaviness, hardness, and crystal habits

Popularity (1-4)

Prevalence (1-3)

Demand (1-3)

Distinguishing
Similar Minerals

Celestine - Very difficult to distinguish without locality information
Calcite - has perfect rhombohedral cleavage, lighter in weight (2.7), and effervesces in hydrochloric acid
Fluorite - forms isometric crystals, lighter in weight (3.0 - 3.3)
Feldspars - much harder (6), lighter in weight
Anglesite - has an adamantine luster

Commonly
Occurs With

Calcite, Fluorite, Chalcopyrite, Cerussite, Gypsum, Anhydrite, Dolomite, Quartz, Apatite, Aragonite, Sulfur

Noteworthy
Localities

On a worldwide basis, fine specimens have come from a number of areas in Australia, Belgium, England, and Morocco.
In the U.S., yellow, tabular Barite associated with Fluorite comes from Sterling, Weld Co., Colorado. It is also found with Fluorite in Cave In Rock, Hardin Co., Illinois. Other localities include Nye Co., Nevada; Alpine Co., California; Palos Verdes Hills, Los Angeles Co., California; Leadville, Lake Co., Colorado; and Elk Creek, Mead Co., South Dakota. Large, lustrous, golden-yellow crystals come from the Barrick Meickle Mine in Eureka County (near Carlin). Perfect "roses" have come from the vicinity of Norman, Cleveland Co., Oklahoma, and from the Sahara Desert in Africa.

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