Barite

Description

Us Americans may call this Barite, but the rest of the world knows this as one of the most stunning Baryte crystals ever possible. However you spell it, it gets its name from the Greek “βαρύς”, romanized as barús, for ‘heavy’. This small crystal weighs in at 33 carats or 6.6 grams, and is absolutely incredible! It’s pretty rare to find a crystal this water-clear, and especially a Barite crystal this clear! This was dug up for you from the Sirius Mine in the Bookcliffs, North of Grand Junction in Colorado, and it’s waiting for you!

Barite was discovered to contain a new element in 1774, named in 1800, then Barium was extracted in 1808. Barite is the primary source of Barium, and it’s primarily used in the Oil and Gas industries as a drilling mud additive for weight. In addition, it’s used in fireworks, and according to Wikipedia, it’s used “in added-value applications which include filler in paint and plastics, sound reduction in engine compartments, coat of automobile finishes for smoothness and corrosion resistance, friction products for automobiles and trucks, radiation shielding concrete, glass ceramics, and medical applications (for example, a barium meal before a contrast CT scan). Baryte is supplied in a variety of forms and the price depends on the amount of processing; filler applications commanding higher prices following intense physical processing by grinding and micronising, and there are further premiums for whiteness and brightness and color. It is also used to produce other barium chemicals, notably barium carbonate which is used for the manufacture of LED glass for television and computer screens (historically in cathode ray tubes); and for dielectrics. Historically, baryte was used for the production of barium hydroxide for sugar refining, and as a white pigment for textiles, paper, and paint. Although baryte contains the toxic alkaline earth metal barium, it is not detrimental for human health, animals, plants and the environment because barium sulfate is extremely insoluble in water. It is also sometimes used as a gemstone.”

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