Barite
| Colour | White, Clear, Blue, Yellow |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 3–3.5 |
| Lustre | Vitreous, pearly |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Transparency | transparent to opaque |
| Cleavage | Perfect cleavage parallel to base and prism faces: {001} Perfect, {210} Perfect, {010} Imperfect |
| Fracture | Irregular/uneven |
| Chemical formula | BaSO 4 |
| Specific gravity | 4.3–5 |
What is Barite?
Baryte or barite ( BARR-eyet, BAIR-), also called barytes ( bə-RY-teez), is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate (BaSO4). Baryte is generally white or colorless, and is the main source of the element barium. The baryte group consists of baryte, celestine (strontium sulfate), anglesite (lead sulfate), and anhydrite (calcium sulfate). Baryte and celestine form a solid solution (Ba,Sr)SO4.
How to identify Barite
- Lustre: Vitreous, pearly.
- Hardness: Mohs 3–3.5 — soft; a knife will scratch it.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: Orthorhombic crystal system.
Barite in different forms
Stones often confused with Barite
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Barite?
Barite is Mohs 3–3.5 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Barite?
Barite is typically white, clear, blue, yellow (Colorless, white, light shades of blue, yellow, grey, brown).