a colourless or white mineral consisting of barium sulphate in orthorhombic crystalline form, occurring in sedimentary rocks and with sulphide ores: a source of barium. Formula: BaSO4
Also called: barytes, heavy spar
Word origin
C18: from bar(ium) + -ite1
barite in American English
(ˈbɛrˌaɪt)
noun
a soft, heavy, orthorhombic mineral, barium sulfate, BaSO4, that is the chief ore of barium, used in making paint, drilling mud, etc.