June 2023 – Barite

The mineral of the month is barite, which is also known under the German name “Schwerspat”. The synonym also already reveals its special feature: high density. This property also conditions the application of barite, since most of the world’s production is used for drilling mud in deep wells. These are particularly necessary for oil and gas wells as well as geothermal energy. Well-known deposits in Germany include the Clara mine. Barite is also still mined there and finds special applications. The largest producers worldwide are China, India and Morocco. Vereinigung der Freunde der Mineralogie und Geologie e.V has chosen barite as the mineral of the year 2023.

BaSO₄

Locality: Grube Churprinz, Freiberg

Size: 6x12x18 cm (HxLxW)

Weight: 800 g

Foto: Fabio Joseph, Mineralogical State Collection Munich