Barite, the Mineral That's Used to Make Milkshakes

    
     Barite is a mineral that is often found near hot springs, in lime stones, and in lead and silver mines. Barium crystals are usually orthorhombic, that is to say they are like little peaked roofs with ends that face inward, and they are usually white, gray, colorless, yellow, gold, brown, red, and blue. Barite is also found in many other forms. Barite forms a “cock’s comb” when its crystals are flat and rounded like a comb on a chicken’s head. When barite is found in form that resembles a flower it is called a “barite rose” or “desert rose.” Desert roses usually form in desert terrains (hence the name desert rose) this occurs when water containing dissolved barite evaporates quickly. Barite also has a very high specific gravity (that means it feels heavy for its size. Drawing from what I remember of my high school chemistry classes, I believe that the reason that barite is so heavy is that it contains the element barium, which is heaver than iron. When an element is heavy or dense, its compounds usually are as well, when compared to compounds containing other, less dense, elements.
     Barite is a very useful mineral. Barite is so useful, in fact, that you have probably come into contact with the mineral on many occasions. One of the key uses of the mineral is to make what is called “drilling mud.” Drilling mud is a compound that is used to lubricate the drill heads used in the oil-drilling industry. Barite is used to make a high-refraction glass called leaded glass or leaded crystal. Tiny barite chips are also added to paints, enamels, plastics, and papers to make the glossy. If you have ever read a magazine with a really shiny cover, chances are that barite was used to give it its sheen. It is also possible that you have ingested barite before. If, like myself, you have ever had an x-ray of your gastrointestinal tract taken, and were given the “magic juice” or “barium milkshake” than you have drank barite. Barium has the ability to absorb x rays and gamma rays, so it will stop them from passing through body tissue. When you drink a “milkshake” that contains barium the mineral will be present in your digestive tract and stop x-rays from passing through it, allowing the picture to be taken. Barite is also added to concrete to make “heavy cement,” which is used to store radioactive waste. Barite is also a source of the metal barium, which is used in scientific research.
     Barite is found in such places as: England, Romania, Italy, Texas, China, Mexico, British Columbia, South Africa, and Australia. Not only are fine crystals mined as choice specimens, but barites of less desirable shape are mined in large quantities for such industrial uses as those mentioned above.
     Barite, arguably the most useful mineral that I have written about yet, is certainly an important mineral in our lives today. It is a very desirable mineral for collectors, and for milkshake makers. (I’m joking about that last one!)