mineral

Barite

Barium sulfate (BaSO4)

Hardness: 3-3.5; Color: White to colorless; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Orthorhombic; Specific Gravity: 4.5 (conspicuously heavy)

Hardness: 3-3
Color: White to colorless
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified July 5, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Hardness: 3-3.5; Color: White to colorless; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Orthorhombic; Specific Gravity: 4.5 (conspicuously heavy)

Formation & geological history

Usually forms in hydrothermal veins, as well as in sedimentary rocks through precipitation from barium-rich fluids. Found in Mississippian-age rock layers in the Missouri region.

Uses & applications

Primary source of barium; used as a weighing agent in drilling mud, in white pigments, paper fillers, and as a radiopaque agent in medical 'barium meals'.

Geological facts

This specimen is highly consistent with the 'Missouri Barite' found in the Washington County Barite District. Local miners often refer to it as 'tiff'. It is known for its surprising weight relative to its size.

Field identification & locations

Identify by its unusually high density for a non-metallic mineral and its relative softness compared to quartz. Common in the Ozark region near St. Charles and Washington counties.