The facts
What barite actually is
The species behind barite is barium sulphate, BaSO₄; it forms in the orthorhombic system.
Usually colourless; iron gives yellow and brown is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.636–1.648 and a specific gravity of about 4.3–4.6, with perfect, one direction cleavage.
Where barite comes from
Commercial material comes from China, India, Morocco and USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
Is barite treated?
None.
That makes disclosure simple: there is nothing to declare. It also means a seller offering a "treated" version of this material is offering something else.
What barite is confused with
Watch for Celestine, Calcite and Anhydrite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.636–1.648 and specific gravity 4.3–4.6 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What barite is used for
The trades that buy barite are drilling fluids, radiation shielding, pigments and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the tonne or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 3–3.5; cleavage perfect, one direction. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What barite costs
Expect roughly $80–250/tonne, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is barite treated?
None.
Where does barite come from?
China, India, Morocco and USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is barite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3–3.5 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does barite cost?
Indicatively $80–250/tonne. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is barite confused with?
Most often Celestine, Calcite and Anhydrite. A refractive index of 1.636–1.648 and a specific gravity near 4.3–4.6 separate it quickly.
What is barite used for besides jewellery?
drilling fluids, radiation shielding, pigments and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for barite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about barite