.jpg) Barite, Wood County, Ohio; N 5733 |
The name barite comes from a Greek word meaning heavy. This refers to its relatively high specific gravity (see below), a characteristic that helps in distinguishing barite from other similar minerals such as calcite, fluorite and celestite. In natural settings, barite frequently replaces other minerals such as celestite. Also, it sometimes replaces organic materials such as wood, shells and fossils. As an ore, barite is the primary source of barium. Barite also is used in the manufacture of paper, paint and glass, in medical radiology, and in drilling oil wells.