• High Specific Gravity:
Barite is among the heaviest non-metallic minerals, with a specific gravity of approximately 4.5.
• Color:
Typically white or colorless, though it can appear in various colors due to impurities.
• Hardness:
On the Mohs scale, barite has a hardness between 3 and 3.5.
1. Oil and Gas Industry:
• Drilling Mud: Barite is predominantly used as a weighting agent in drilling muds to increase their density, thereby preventing the influx of gases and fluids into the well.
2. Paint and Coatings Industry:
• Filler: In paints, coatings, and inks, barite serves as a filler that enhances weight, stability, and chemical resistance, while also helping to reduce production costs.
3. Glassmaking and Ceramics Industry:
• Special Glasses: Due to its thermal and chemical stability, barite is used in the manufacture of optical and specialty glasses.
• Ceramics: It is employed in the production of certain ceramics to improve thermal resistance and durability.
4. Medical Industry:
• Medical Imaging: Barite is used as a contrast agent in radiography. It improves the visibility of internal organs by enhancing X-ray imaging.
5. Plastics and Rubber Industry:
• Filler: In plastics and rubber, barite acts as a filler, increasing weight, wear resistance, and improving the mechanical properties of the products.
6. Paper Industry:
• Paper Quality: Barite is used as a filler in papermaking, enhancing the weight, whiteness, and smoothness of paper surfaces.
7. Electronics Industry:
• Electronic Components: Barite is used in the production of certain electronic components, including capacitors and resistors.
Barite’s unique properties, such as high specific gravity, chemical resistance, and thermal stability, make it a valuable material across multiple industries.
Ako Pars Company, located in the Delijan Industrial Park, began its operations in 2005 in the production of various micronized, industrial, and mineral powders, such as calcium carbonate, various industrial talcs, barite, and kaolin.