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Barite Mineral Facts:

Chemical Formula: BaSO₄
Sulphate  of Barium. Small amounts of strontium and calcium sulphates are present at times. Sometimes known as "Heavy Spar".

Colors: Colorless to white, and light shades of blue, yellow, red.

Hardness: 3.0
Hardness is such that is can just be scratched with a steel knife blade.

Density: 4.5 (which is heavy for a nonmetallic mineral).

Cleavage: Perfect cleavage parallel to base and prism faces.

Crystallography: Orthorhombic
Barite usually occurs crystallized, though it is also often found massive and in granular, fibrous and lamellar forms. The simple crystals are usually tabular or prismatic in habit. It is a common mineral associated with sulphide ores as a gangue.

Luster:. Vitreous luster; pearly at times on base. Transparent to opaque, and its streak is white.

Optics: (Refractive Index)  = a = 1.636; b = 1.637; y = 1.648
 

Barite (yellow / orange) with Fluorite and Calcite

Composition, Structure and Associated Minerals:
Barite is commonly found as crystals, sometimes in divergent groups of tabular crystals forming "crested barite." Also coarsely laminated; granular, earthy. It is found also as a replacement of limestone, which, when it weathers, leaves the barite in the form of fragments and nodules in a residual clay, and as a deposit in hot springs. In all cases it is believed to be a deposit from solutions.

Identification and Diagnostics
The mineral barite is normally distinguished from the other sulphates by its high specific gravity and the color it imparts to the blowpipe flame. Barite is fusible at 4, giving yellowish green barium flame. After ignition gives an alkaline reaction on moistened test paper. Fused with sodium carbonate and charcoal dust gives a residue, which, when moistened, produces a dark stain of silver sulphide on a clean silver surface. Recognized by its white or other pale colors, high specific gravity, characteristic cleavage and crystals.

Industrial Uses of Barite
Barium is the only important ore of Barium, and considerable quantities of barite are mined.  More than 80% of the barite produced is used as drilling mud in oil and gas well drilling to help prevent "blow-outs". The white varieties of the mineral are ground and the powder is used in making paints. The mineral is also employed as a filler in the manufacture of paper, floor coverings, and cosmetics. Barite is also used in the manufacture of barium salts, the most important of which is the sulfate, which is employed in radiology for taking X-ray photographs.

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