Barite, a name that was derived from the Greek word "barus" (heavy), is the mineralogical name for barium sulfate. In commerce, the mineral is sometimes referred to as "barytes." The term "primary barite" refers to the first marketable product, which includes crude Baryte (run of mine) and the products of simple beneficiation methods, such as washing, jigging, heavy media separation, tabling, flotation, and magnetic separation.

It is a relatively inert mineral with a high density and most commonly used as a weighting agent in drilling muds. These high density muds are circulated down the drill stem and return to the surface between the drill stem and the wall of the well. This action effectively flushes the cuttings produced by the drill and carries them to the surface.

Baryte is also used as a pigment in paints and as weighted filler for paper and cloth. It is the primary ore of barium. Barite's high density makes it opaque to x-rays. If it is given to a patient as a drink or enema it can be used to image the shape of internal organs by x-ray.

Although barite contains a "heavy" metal (barium), it is not a toxic chemical under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, because it is very insoluble.

Barytes Industrial Applications
Painting Industry
Rubber Industry
Paper-Making Industry
Plastic and Cosmetics Industry
Pharmaceutical Industry

Extra Super Snow White Barytes Powder
Specification of Extra Super Snow White Barytes Powder 240 to 500 mesh:

PARAMETER 240 MESH 300 MESH 400 MESH 500 MESH
Specific Gravity 4.3 4.4 4.3 4.4 4.3 - 4.4 4.3 4.4
BaSO4 97% Min 97% Min 97% Min 97% Min
SiO2 1% Max 1% Max 1% Max 1% Max
Fe2O3 0.25% Max 0.25% Max 0.25% Max 0.25% Max
Brightness 95 Min 95 Min 95 Min 95 Min
Moisture 1% Max 1% Max 1% Max 1% Max
Residue 0.5 Max 0.5 Max 0.5 Max 0.5 Max