Whether you are purchasing it or just curious about knowing better, this blog will simplify your search. Barite is one of those minerals used in our daily products. So, it is better to know about it. Where it is found, how it is extracted, and what are its properties, you will get all the answers below most simply.
Barite is a short form of barium sulfate, one of the minerals used in industries. It is the main source of barium, which you might have heard of. BaSO4 is the chemical formula of Barite, which is called barium sulfate. You might not have heard about it commonly since it is used in a few industries. Well, the time has come to read about it.
It is also known as Bologna stone when it radiates upon heating. It got its name, Bologna Stone, from its source when it was discovered in Bologna, Italy. When it was discovered, it was found that it is a heavy mineral, which is why its chemical name was derived from the Greek word "barys", which means heavy. Since it is a heavy mineral, Barite density is high, around 4.48 g/cm³. Depending on the purity level, its density could be a little more or less. It is among stable minerals, which is why they are used in various industries.
When you know about a mineral's physical and chemical properties, it becomes easy to understand its nature. Then, you can understand why plastic, rubber, and paper manufacturers use it. It has a vitreous luster and glassy appearance. This is a natural form where you can recognize it easily.
The properties of Barite are many, and both chemical and physical ones will be discussed here. We want you to get a better insight in the simplest way possible. Starting with color, the easiest way to recognize you will find it mostly in white or colorless. However, you can find versions of barite colors like grey, light bluish shades, yellow, and brown.
In terms of chemical properties, it is insoluble in solvents like water and acids like acetic, hydrochloric, citric, etc. It is insoluble in mostly solvents since it has low reactivity. That is why it is a stable mineral.
India, China, Kazakhstan, the United States, Pakistan, and Morocco are some of the top countries with high geological occurrence of barite ores. Their extraction process takes place on various sites in these countries. In physical appearance, they are found in hydrothermal veins and limestone veins.
The formation of Barite consists of a long process where multiple steps are taken.
First, the exploration process takes place through various modes like aerial scanning and geological pieces of evidence. Then, the sampling is done by confirming if the site has enough barite ores. Geologists conduct various tests and samples for that, so it takes a little time.
After it is confirmed that the site has enough Barite, the site preparation process starts. It is about preparing the place for digging and processing at a large scale. The operation team clears the path for the extraction process so the nearby location can not be disturbed.
Then, the extraction process takes place where the ores are extracted with the help of tools and machines. Moreover, underground and open-pit mining are two types of mining processes.
It depends on the amount of Barite and where it is found in high concentration. If it is underground, operators have to conduct a deep extraction process. If it is open-pit, the process can be less complicated than the first. The reason is the risk involved in the underground extraction process.
Then comes the grinding process when the extraction process is complete. The grinding process is performed after the large rocks are taken out of the field. Workers have to grind them into chunks for the filtration of ores. Lots of additional stuff is removed to reach the core of the Barite.
Then, the second last process takes place where the Barite is separated from its ore. It is a careful and sensitive part where geologists and laborers remove the impurities from the ore.
Then, the last process comes when the Barite comes in full form. The last process is about the removal of moisture from it. The drying process takes out every possibility of moisture from it. Then, the packaging takes place for the delivery process.
You might be wondering about the applications of Barite, and we provided some slight info in the beginning. They are used in oil and gas industries as a drilling fluid. It is for the prevention of blowouts during the drilling process, which is very common. It is used as a weighting agent, increasing the density for maximum suppression of blowout.
One of its types, white Barite, is used in the pigmentation process. Paper, paint, and plastic industries use it for color stability. It adds whiteness as well as strength to the pigmentation of the product. Not only that, it gives paint anti-aging features. This is why they last for a long time when they remain packed. It plays a crucial role as plastic and paint filler.
It is used not only in these industries but also in the medical industry. It is used for medical imaging in the X-ray process. With the help of its high whiteness rate, it can be easily detected in X-ray vision.
Hopefully, you are well aware of Barite and its uses. If you purchase it wholesale, it will be better to test it for purity. You will realize its worth once you use it in your plastic, rubber, pain, or oil extraction process.