Description

Barite gets its name from the Greek word baros (heavy) due to its high specific gravity. Barite is mostly mined as an ore for barium. It can form as crystals or as an aggregate. The mineral is most often white or colorless but can form in array of colors. Crystals are transparent to opaque with prismatic, tabular, bladed, or acicular habits. Aggregates can be massive, granular, concretionary, and fibrous. The crystals are soft and brittle and have perfect cleavage in two directions. Specimens should be kept from heat, and they might fade in sunlight. Specimens might fluoresce and some have greenish white phosphoresce. It is used in the manufacture of paints and paper.  Although Barite contains a ‘heavy’ metal, Barium, it is not considered to be a toxic chemical because of its extreme insolubility.