Barium economic importance

Strontianite is the naturally occurring form of strontium carbonate. It has a theoretical strontium oxide content of 70.2%, but no economically workable deposits are known. There are some naturally occurring strontium—barium and strontium—calcium isomorphs, but none has economic importance. 

Most abundant group of materials, composed of silicates of aluminium with sodium, potassium, calcium, and rarely barium. Most economically important mineral. Used for ceramics, glass, abrasive wheels, cements, insulation and fertilizer. 

Economic Importance. After barium sulfate, barium carbonate, which occurs naturally as witherite, is the most important barium compound. The USA production of synthetic barium carbonate, including barium hydroxide, was ca. 25 10 t in 1996. 

Barium sulfate, barite, heavy spar, is a very important industrial mineral. More than 5 millions tonnes are mined each year, mostly in China. Other important sources are the Massif Central in France together with Turkey, North Africa, India, Mexico and the USA. Barium carbonate, witherite, is nowadays economically unimportant... 

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