Sulfates: Barite

Composition: BaSO₄ strontium may substitute for barium

Crystal system: Orthorhombic; variety of habits including tabular crystals, massive and concretionary forms

6.4.1
cleavable barite

Properties:

• Vitreous lustre
• Variable color; colorless, white, cream, grey, green, blue or pink
• White streak
• Knife scratches very easily; fingernail does not scratch (Mohs Hardness 3-3.5)
• High density
• Three perfect cleavages, two not at 90^o to each other
• Cleaves rather than fractures unless finegrained
• Not ferromagnetic
• Does not react with hydrochloric acid (HCl)

Occurrence:

Barite is the most common barium mineral. It occurs with carbonates, other sulfates and sulfides in hydrothermal vein and massive sulfide and sulfate deposits and also in cavities and lenses in limestones.

6.4.2 cleavable barite	6.4.3 barite crystals Northumberland England

Barite is used mainly for the production of drilling mud that is used in the oil and mineral exploration industries.

6.4.4
barite crystals
Northumberland England