[bair-ahyt, bar-] 
| a common mineral, barium sulfate, BaSO4, occurring in white, yellow, or colorless tabular crystals: the principal ore of barium. |
| bar·ite (bâr'īt, bār'-) n. A yellow, white, or colorless crystalline mineral of barium sulfate, BaSO4, that is used in paint and as the chief source of barium chemicals. Also called heavy spar. [Greek barus, heavy; see gwerə-1 in Indo-European roots + -ite1.] |
| heavy spar n. See barite. |
| barite (bâr'īt) Pronunciation Key
A usually white, clear, or yellow orthorhombic mineral. Barite occurs as flattened blades or in a circular pattern of crystals that looks like a flower and, when colored red by iron stains, is called a desert rose. It is found in limestone, in clay-rich rocks, and in sandstones. Barite is used as a source of barium. Chemical formula: BaSO4. |