Baryte, barite or barytes ( or ) is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate (BaSO4). Baryte is generally white or colorless, and is the main source of the element barium. The baryte group consists of baryte, celestine (strontium sulfate), anglesite (lead sulfate), and anhydrite (calcium sulfate). Baryte and celestine form a solid solution (Ba,Sr)SO4.
Baryte crystals from Cerro Huarihuyn, Miraflores, Huamalíes, Huánuco, Peru
Baryte with galena and hematite from Poland
Baryte (top) and dolomite from Cumbria, England
Abandoned baryte mine shaft near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland
Barium is a chemical element; it has symbol Ba and atomic number 56. It is the fifth element in group 2 and is a soft, silvery alkaline earth metal. Because of its high chemical reactivity, barium is never found in nature as a free element.
Barium
Oxidized barium
Sir Humphry Davy, who first isolated barium metal
Benitoite crystals on natrolite. The mineral is named for the San Benito River in San Benito County where it was first found.