Baryte

Baryte, also known as barite or barytes, is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate (BaSO₄). It is generally white or colorless and serves as the main source of the element barium. The mineral belongs to the baryte group, which also includes celestine (strontium sulfate), anglesite (lead sulfate), and anhydrite (calcium sulfate); baryte and celestine can form a solid solution. The name derives from a Greek word meaning "heavy," and while the International Mineralogical Association initially adopted "barite" as the official spelling, it later recommended the older "baryte," a change largely ignored by American mineralogists. Other historical names include heavy spar, tiff, and blanc fixe.

A radiating form of baryte, sometimes called Bologna Stone, became notable among alchemists after specimens were found near Bologna in the 17th century by Vincenzo Casciarolo, as these stones became phosphorescent when calcined. In 1774, Carl Scheele determined that baryte contained a new element but could only isolate barium oxide; Johan Gottlieb Gahn achieved the same two years later. Barium was first isolated in 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy through electrolysis of molten barium salts. In Missouri, local French populations called baryte tuf blanc or tiff, and it was often discarded during early lead mining. It gained value in the late 19th century with the rise of the petroleum industry. Near Potosi, historical records show that Creole piocheurs and their families dug it from shallow pits until mechanized processing arrived in the 20th century.

Baryte occurs in many depositional environments—biogenic, hydrothermal, and evaporative—and is commonly found in lead-zinc veins in limestones, hot spring deposits, and with hematite ore. It is often associated with anglesite and celestine and has been identified in meteorites. The American Petroleum Institute specification for drilling baryte does not refer to a specific mineral but to a material meeting density and purity standards, though this is almost always the mineral baryte. Primary barytes include crude run-of-mine material and products of simple beneficiation like washing or flotation. Most crude baryte requires upgrading, and it is crushed and screened for use as aggregate in heavy cement or ground finely for use as a filler, extender, or weighting agent in drilling mud.