Barite is the natural compound of the barium sulfate with the formula of 4BaSO, a sulfate which is also known as Heavy Spar. The name barite comes from the Greek word “barys” meaning “heavy” and is called so due to its particular and high heaviness. Its crystallization system is orthorhombic. The most important compounds containing barium are: Barite (4BaSO) and vitriol (3BaCO). Barite is found in more volumes than vitriol. In nature, barite is found in streak, layer and residual forms.
Barite has a white to bright grey color in normal condition however it may be seen in bluish, brownish or blackish colors. Barite is an opaque mineral with pearl to glassy shine. Its type one samples are drawn in the form of orthorhombic crystals however industrial barite is prepared in the form of granulation, crystal masses or kidney shape. The density of this mineral is high and about 4.3 to 4.6. This specification greatly helps the identification of barite. Barite’s inflexibility has a significant range which is variable between 2.5 to 3.5, and different areas usually produce barite with various inflexibility.
Barite is a common mineral with a widespread use. It is usually found as a redundant mineral in heat strata along with silver, lead, copper, cobalt, manganese, antimony ores as well as in the streaks of limestone with calcite or in mass forms remained in the argils covering limestone and also in sandstones or copper ores. In some areas it acts as cement of sandstones and it sometimes silts from the hot water fountains.
Barite is mainly found in streak, sedimentary, volcanic forms and residual barite minerals. It is mainly used for petroleum and gas excavations, preparation of barium-contained chemicals, ceramic and fillers.
Various factors are involved in pricing of this mineral which include supply and demand balance, quality and type of usage in different industries, transportation fare, labor wage, energy price and insurance fee. It should be noted that the biggest consumers of barite are producers of excavation clay. The crude oil price has direct effect on excavation activities, hence on the demand for barite. The volume of demand is the most important factor on the price of this mineral.
The type of the processed powder of this mineral depends on its consumption in different industries something which leads to price difference of the various types of the powder of this mineral while the quality of different types of this powder play a role in pricing. Another factor which has a major role in barite pricing is transportation fares.