Mineral phase
IMA name
Barite
Secondary names
Baryte
Type
Class
non-silicate mineral
Compound type
sulfate
Chemical composition
Formula
$BaSO_4 $
Chemical formula
BaSO4
Elemental formula
Ba S O4
Isotope mixture type
terrestrial abundance
  Formula Name Family Number min-max Isotope mole fraction State Relevance
$Ba$ Barium element 1 constituent element main
$S$ Sulfur element 1 constituent element main
$O$ Oxygen element 4 constituent element main
Chemical functions
  Function Number
$(SO_4)^{2-}$ 1
Chemical bonds
  Bond Number
$\dddot - \dddot - \dddot - S \dddot - O^{-1/2}$ 4
Oxides
Formula $BaO$ $SO_{3}$
Mass fraction (%) 67.7 34.3

Strunz

Class
sulfates - chromates - molybdates - tungstates (07)
Division
sulfates (selenates, etc.) without additional anions, without H2O (07.A)
Family
with only large cations (07.AD)
Code
07.AD.35

Dana

Major class
sulfates, chromates, selenates (VI)
Class
anhydrous acid and sulfates (28)
Type
where (A++)XO4 (28.03)
Group
Barite group (28.03.01)
Code
28.03.01.01
Phase type
crystalline
Crystal system
orthorhombic
Crystal class
dipyramidal
Crystal class symbol
mmm (D2h)
Crystal spacegroup
Pnma
Molar mass
233.39 $g/mol$
Density
4.48 $g/cm^3$
State NTP
solid
Refringence type
biaxial
Refringence sign
positive
Birefringence
0.011 - 0.012
Refraction index $n_{\alpha}$
1.634 - 1.637
Refraction index $n_{\beta}$
1.6355 - 1.638
Refraction index $n_{\gamma}$
1.646 - 1.648
Dispersion V
36 - 42
Pure color
white
Color
white, yellowish white, grayish white, brownish white, dark brown
Diaphaneity
transparent to opaque
Luster
vitreous
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