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What Is Barite?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Barite is a mineral found in natural deposits all over the world. Also known as baryte, it is primarily of interest to the oil and gas industry, which uses it in the production of drilling muds. Secondary uses for barite can be seen in medicine, industrial production, and a variety of other applications. Mining firms can provide raw or processed barite for customers, along with other minerals they may find in close vicinity.

A number of formative processes including evaporation and geothermal deposition can contribute to the formation of this mineral, which is often found in association with materials like sandstone and hematite. In nature, it consists of loose crystal formations which often cleave readily. The crystals can be white, gray, brown, and red to rose-colored, depending on the neighboring mineral compounds. Pure barite has the mineral formula BaSO4, otherwise known as barium sulfate.

Barium sulfate is frequently given to patients orally before imaging tests are performed on the digestive tract.
Barium sulfate is frequently given to patients orally before imaging tests are performed on the digestive tract.

One interesting property of barite is its extreme weight. The mineral is much heavier than others of a comparable size. In drilling fluids, it makes a useful weighting agent, although oil and gas companies also have to compensate for the added weight of the barite in drilling calculations. The weight also makes it easy to identify, as it will be heavier than it looks, which can help distinguish it from crystalline formations of a similar superficial appearance.

Some companies use this mineral as a filler material in concrete and other products. It can be useful for radiation shielding, where layers of concrete and other materials create a wall to isolate an area with radioactive substances. In medicine, processed barite in the form of barium is used for some kinds of medical imaging studies. Patients swallow the mineral, which is opaque on x-ray, allowing doctors and medical professionals to study the throats and digestive tract. It is not soluble in water, and is eliminated by the body without accumulating in tissues like the liver and kidneys.

Mining firms analyze barite deposits to estimate how much of the mineral is available and to test for impurities and companion deposits that may be of financial use as well. In the process of drilling and mining, they can uncover a range of products that may be separated by processing for use in various applications. Processing typically includes grinding to pull components apart and reduce them to fragments of similar size for ease of handling. The fragmented minerals can be subjected to additional processes to purify them and prepare them for various uses.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllTheScience researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllTheScience researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

StarJo

@Oceana – Some types of barite make very interesting jewelry. My sister lives in Oklahoma, where the barite rose is the state rock.

These rocks look like roses because of their shape and color. What's cool is that this occurs naturally. Man did not have to carve them into the shape of the flower, and color did not need to be added.

The red dirt in Oklahoma gives the barite roses their color. My sister has a necklace made from a barite rose wrapped in wire for support, and it is one of the coolest pieces of jewelry I have ever seen.

I have also heard of clear barite crystals being used as jewelry. These come in long rectangles. Since barite is soft, it can be carved as needed.

Oceana

Is barite ever used to make jewelry? If it comes in so many colors, it seems like it would be ideal as a stone for necklaces and earrings.

However, since the article says it is heavy, it might not be so great for wearing around your neck or in your ears. Personally, I prefer light jewelry, because I don't like to feel like I have a boulder around my neck or my ear lobes are being pulled downward.

OeKc05

I had to swallow some barium before I received x-rays to test for stomach ulcers. I had been having a lot of stomach pain, and my doctor set me up an appointment for the x-rays.

She told me not to eat or drink anything before my x-ray. Food could obstruct the radiologist's view of my stomach. Plus, the whole point of drinking the barium was to make my insides visible.

The x-ray technician told me to move around in a few different positions after drinking the barium. She said this would help it cover different areas.

The barium tasted chalky, and it had the consistency of a shake. It was a little difficult to drink the whole glass, but I knew I had to do it.

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    • Barium sulfate is frequently given to patients orally before imaging tests are performed on the digestive tract.
      By: Rob Byron
      Barium sulfate is frequently given to patients orally before imaging tests are performed on the digestive tract.