mineral

Baryte (Barite)

Barium sulfate (BaSO4)

Hardness: 3-3.5 on Mohs scale. Color: Colorless, white, yellow, or pale brown. Luster: Vitreous to pearly. Crystal structure: Orthorhombic. Cleavage: Perfect in one direction, good in two others. Specific Gravity: 4.5 (notably heavy for a non-metallic mineral).

Hardness: 3-3
Color: Colorless, white, yellow, or pale brown
Luster: Vitreous to pearly

Identified June 28, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Forms in hydrothermal veins, as a precipitate in sedimentary rocks, and as a replacement mineral in limestone and dolostone. It often occurs alongside lead and zinc ores.

Uses & applications

Primarily used as a weighting agent in drilling muds for the oil and gas industry. Also used as a filler in paints, plastics, and paper, and as a radiopaque agent in medical X-ray imaging (barium swallows).

Geological facts

The name comes from the Greek word 'barys', meaning 'heavy', reflecting its unusually high density for a light-colored mineral. It is the primary ore of barium.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its high density (it feels much heavier than quartz or calcite of the same size) and its bladed or tabular crystal habit. Commonly found in locations like Morocco, the UK, and the USA (notably Nevada).