Barium

minerals

baryte

witherite

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Formula: Ba
Barium is an alkaline earth element which does not occur in the native state. It occurs most commonly as baryte and witherite. It usually exists as a divalent ion, Ba²⁺, in its compounds. Abundance in the Earth’s crust is 425 parts per million by weight, 41 parts per million by moles.
barium is commercially obtained from the electrolysis of molten barium chloride, BaCl₂ (ChC).

Specific gravity: 3.59
Colour: Silvery white
Melting point: 725^oC
Boiling point: 1897^oC

Barium-bearing minerals include:

Oxides - the oxide anion is O^2-
Fluorides - the fluoride anion is F^-
Carbonates - the carbonate anion is (CO₃)^2-
Sulphates - the sulphate anion is (SO₄)^2-
Selenites - the selenite anion is (Se⁴⁺O₃)^2-
Phosphates - the phosphate anion is (P⁵⁺O₄)^3-
Arsenates - the arsenate anion is (As⁵⁺O₄)^3-
Vanadates - the vanadate anion is (V⁵⁺O₄)^3-
Tungstates - the tungstate anion is (WO⁶⁺O₄)^2-
Nesosilicates - insular (Si⁴⁺O₄)^4- groups
Sorosilicate - (Si⁴⁺₂O₇)^6- groups
Cyclosilicates - (Si⁴⁺_nO_3n)^2n- groups
Inosilicates - single chain - (Si⁴⁺_nO_3n)^2n- groups
Phyllosilicates - (Si⁴⁺₂O₅)^2- groups
Tectosilicate - [Al³⁺_xSi⁴⁺O_yO_(2x+2y)]^x−
Unclassified silicates

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