Barite Ore Lumps

Barite is a mineral composed of barium sulfate (BaSO4) and derives its name from the Greek word ‘barys’, meaning “heavy.” This name is in response to barite’s high specific gravity of 4.5, which is exceptional for a nonmetallic mineral. Barite is typically white/grey in appearance but can vary from yellow, brown, red, and even black due to impurities.

Barite’s Mohs hardness is 3.0 to 3.5, making it a relatively soft mineral. It is chemically inert and insoluble, which along with its high density, lends itself to a variety of applications. Typical chemical composition: BaO 65.7%; SO3 34.3%.

Barite is formed through a number of processes including hydrothermal, biogenic, and evaporation, and occurs in veins, stratiform beds in addition to residual deposits. Vein and residual deposits are of hydrothermal origin, while bedded deposits are sedimentary. The most important stratiform deposits are those formed by the precipitation of barite at or near the seafloor of sedimentary basins. The brines are generated by migration of reduced, saline fluids and are concentrated by major basin-controlling faults. They are often associated with base metal sulphides (mainly zinc-lead).

Vein-style deposits form by precipitation from hot barium-enriched fluids in faults and fractures as a result of fluid mixing or reduced pressure and/or temperature. Residual deposits are formed by the dissolution of the host rock of vein or bedded deposits, leaving irregular masses of barytes in a clay matrix. Such deposits are extremely variable in size and shape, but can extend over several kilometres.