barite

[ bair-ahyt, bar- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a common mineral, barium sulfate, BaSO 4 , occurring in white, yellow, or colorless tabular crystals: the principal ore of barium.

barite

/ ˈbɛəraɪt /

a colourless or white mineral consisting of barium sulphate in orthorhombic crystalline form, occurring in sedimentary rocks and with sulphide ores: a source of barium. Formula: BaSO 4 Also calledbarytesheavy spar

barite

/ bâr′īt /

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: BaSO 4 .

Origin of barite¹

First recorded in 1780–90; bar(ytes) + -ite ¹

Origin of barite¹

C18: from bar ( ium ) + -ite ¹

Thus calc spar is a common name for calcite, heavy spar for barite, needle spar for aragonite, and so on.

Germany is the world's principal producer of barite and has large reserves of high grade.

Ground barite is also used in certain kinds of rubber goods and in the making of heavy glazed paper.

The mineral barite is a heavy white sulphate of barium, frequently called "barytes" or "heavy spar."

Witherite, the barium carbonate, is a much rarer mineral but is found with barite in some veins.

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

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