Barium (Ba)
Critical industrial mineral present at the Venezuelan carbonatite deposit. Barium is indispensable for oil and gas drilling, medical diagnostics, radiation shielding, and specialized glass manufacturing.
The global barite market exceeds 8 million tonnes annually, driven by oil and gas drilling. Pharmaceutical-grade barium sulfate for medical imaging commands $5-15/kg premiums. Barium titanate (BaTiO₃) is essential for MLCC capacitors in all modern electronics.
Reserve Valuation
Barite (barium sulfate) trades at ~$150/tonne for drilling-grade API 13A material. While unit prices are lower than rare earths, barite is consumed in massive volumes — the global market exceeds 8 million tonnes annually. Downstream pharmaceutical-grade barium sulfate for medical imaging commands premiums of $5-15/kg.
The Mineral That Keeps Drilling Alive
Barite (barium sulfate, BaSO₄) is the heaviest commonly used mineral — its density makes it irreplaceable as a drilling mud additive in the oil and gas industry. Without barite, deep wells collapse under pressure. With renewed Orinoco Belt drilling and the U.S. fracking boom, demand for high-purity barite continues to grow.
Commercial Specifications
- Barite (BaSO₄) — API 13A grade | Specific gravity 4.2+ | For drilling muds
- Precipitated Barium Sulfate — Purity 99%+ | For paints, plastics, and rubber
- Pharmaceutical Barium Sulfate — USP/EP | For radiological contrast media
- Barium Carbonate — Technical grade | For glass and ceramics manufacturing
- Independent third-party certification included with every lot
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API 13A barite and high-purity barium sulfate available. Register your interest in pricing.
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