Barite, or baryte, an important industrial mineral, is found abundantly in Pakistan. Chemically, it consists of crystals of barium sulphate. It is used in paints, textiles, paper, rubber, medicines, cosmetics, plastics and glass manufacturing. Barite, also called “heavy spar”, has application in radiology for x-ray examination of digestive system as absorber of radiation, and in the oil and gas industry as barium mud or cement for drilling operations. It often replaces other minerals and organic materials like wood, shells and fossils.

Pakistan ranks fourteenth globally, among 35 countries with deposits of over 30 million tons of barite, medium to high grade. Unfortunately, its production has been too slow and remains static for the last seven years or so. In the year 2003, barite production amounted to 40,745 tons that increased in subsequent year to 44,207 tons. Its production declined to 42,087 tons in 2005 but picked up to 45,169 tons in 2006. Since then it registered negative growth and currently barite production is about 42,000 tons.

Barite was first discovered in 1956 at Gunga near Khuzdar in Balochistan. Later, it was found in other places in the province and also in Haripur-Abbottabad region in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In fact an extensive lead-zinc-barite mineralisation belt has been discovered in Lasbela, Balochistan. Significant localities are Shekran, Rang Laki, Mai Khor, Gunga, Surmai and Duddar. Minerals at Gunga, Sarmai and Duddar have been explored and evaluated for prospective deposits. The private sector has installed a few barite crushing plants in the two provinces which are in operation on a small scale.

Barite production however is neither proportionate to its deposits nor commensurate with the varied applications in industry; the domestic demand of which is being met through imports. Pakistan Petroleum Limited has a barite mine in Gunga, Balochistan and operates a grinding plant that provides oil drilling barite for its exploration and production activities.

The economic importance of barite mineral development has not been recognised as yet. Indeed, commercial exploitation of fairly large deposits of barite provides an excellent opportunity for domestic and foreign investment and result in socio-economic development of the areas. Barite has great export potential as well. Interestingly, a Peshawar-based company exports about 600 tons of barite annually.

Well-known for its great range of colours and varied crystal forms, barite is transparent or opaque. It is found as colourless, white, yellow, orange, red, purple, pink, brown, blue, green, grey, black and multi-coloured.

Specimens from certain locations are brown occurring in beautiful rosette structure embedded with sand grains that strikingly resemble a flower, called barite “desert roses”. Due to these qualities it is immensely popular mineral among collectors too.