Barite
About Barite
Barite is a barium sulfate mineral valued for its high specific gravity and chemical inertness. It is primarily used as a weighting agent in oil and gas well drilling fluids, where it helps control formation pressures. The mineral is also used in medical imaging and as a filler in paints, plastics, and rubber products.
Primary Uses
Top Producing Countries
Quick Facts
- Symbol
- BaSO4
- Category
- Industrial Mineral
- Criticality Level
- Medium
- Supply Risk
- Medium
- Top Producer
- China
- USGS Critical List
- Listed
- EU CRM List
- Listed
Explore Barite In Depth
Dive into detailed analysis across 11 key topics covering every aspect of the Barite value chain.
Uses & Applications
Discover the primary industrial, technological, and commercial applications of Barite across key sectors.
Supply Chain
Trace the Barite supply chain from mine to market, including key intermediaries, processing hubs, and trade flows.
Mining & Processing
Learn how Barite is extracted, concentrated, and processed into usable forms for downstream industries.
Refining & Grade Specs
Explore the refining methods, purity grades, and technical specifications that define Barite products.
Recycling
Assess the recycling potential, current recovery rates, and circular economy opportunities for Barite.
Substitutes
Evaluate possible substitutes and alternative materials that could reduce dependence on Barite.
Investing
Understand the investment landscape for Barite, including equities, ETFs, futures, and direct exposure strategies.
Price
Analyze Barite pricing mechanisms, historical trends, benchmarks, and the factors that drive market volatility.
Companies
Identify the major miners, processors, and technology companies involved in the Barite value chain.
Projects
Review the significant mining and processing projects shaping the future supply of Barite worldwide.
Risks
Examine the supply risks, geopolitical vulnerabilities, and strategic concerns associated with Barite.
Return to the full Mineral Library to explore other critical and strategic minerals.