PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
Chemistry: BaSO4
Color: clear, bluish, yellow, brown, reddish
Group: Sulfates
Group: Barite
Included in the group are Anglesite,
Celestite and Hashemite.
Crystal system: Orthorbornbic
Crystal habit: Rhombic Bipyramidal
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 3-3.5
Specific gravity: 4.3-4.6
Refractive Index: 1.95 - 1.97
Luster: glassy
Streak: white
Cleavage: perfect in basal and prismatic
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Associated Minerals: albite, analcime,
andradite, bastnäsite, biotite, burbankite, calcite, chlorite group,
fluorapatite, ilmenite, microcline, molybdenite, natrolite, pyrite,
pyrophanite, pyrrhotite, quartz, rutile, siderite, sphalerite and zircon.
COMPOSITION:
Barium Sulfate(65.7% BaO, 34.3% SO3)
ENVIRONMENT:
Although barite is often an accompanying mineral of sulfide
ore veins, it is even more
common in sedimentary rocks and as a late low temperature mineral in
epithermal deposits.
It forms when a reducing fluid containing barium mixes with oxidized
fluids. In this environment
it forms nodules and crystals in open spaces. Veins of almost pure barite
have been mined in several localities.
CRYSTAL DESCRIPTION:
Crystals are commonly tabular (thin in one direction)
and can be very large or Prismatic
(shaped like slender prisms). Also Equidimensional,
in featherlike groups. A popular form is
Concessionary masses, (Barite Roses).
Like those found near Norman, Oklahoma.
The presence of iron causes a red-brown color
and sandy texture to occur . The Oklahoma
barite rose, is sometimes referred to as the
"Cherokee Rose". It became Oklahoma's
official state rock on April 8, 1968.
There are also Massive and Fibrous forms.
TESTS & DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTICS:
Barite is distinguished from calcite by it's insolubility
in acid, from feldspar by its softness,
from celestite and anhydrite by the orange fluorescence after firing
or when powdered
barite produces a light green flame. While celestite produces a reddish
flame. From fluorite
by its lack of the typical fluorite fluorescence.
LOCALITIES:
The specimens we have on our site
come from the Barrick gold strike mine in Nevada.
Barite is abundant. So there ore many world wide localities. Large barite
crystals have
come from Cumberland, England. Flat colorless or yellowish crystals
mixed with stibnite needles have come from Felsobanya, Rumania.
On the web you can find specimens for
sale from such places as Missouri. Where good white to clear
crystals, some a foot long,
have been found . Once again the popular “Barite Roses” which have a
reddish brown color
and sandy texture, are found near Norman, Oklahoma. Fine crusts of blue
crystals are found
near Sterling, Colorado. Great concretions, known as “septarian nodules,”
are for sale from
the Bad Lands of South Dakota. There are many other localities such
as Illinois, Morocco
and Tennessee.We have some Strontiobarite from the Elm Wood deposit
in Tennessee.
USES:
Barite is an important commercial mineral. Barite “mud” is poured
into deep oil wells. The heavy mud helps to flush rock chips away from
the drilling head and float them to the surface for inspection. The
heavy mud also partially supports the enormous weight of the steel
drilling tools. Barite also has economic value as a common ore for the
metal barium. Barite
is also used as an aggregate to make a stronger type of cement. Barite
can be ground and
used as a filler or extender in industrial products. Such as paper,
cosmetics, paint, linoleum
or a weighting agent in petroleum. Barite is also used to line the intestines
when conducting
X-rays and is commonly used to enhance brilliance in glass products.
Even though barite contains the heavy metal barium. It is not thought
to be a toxic chemical because it is very insoluble.
FACTS & HISTORY:
The name Barite was derived from the Greek word "barus" (heavy) referring
to the
minerals high specific gravity. Several hundred years ago, a
massive, variety of barite
from Italy was found to phosphoresce when it was lightly heated. It
was called “Bologna
stone” from its locale of discovery. It was of great interest to alchemists.
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