Barium sulphate

Three-quarters of the barite extracted is used to increase or adjust the density of drilling muds at great depths, for example during oil exploitation.
Barium sulphate, in clusters of small fine crystals, is also a well-known white pigment in paints and a mineral filler in papers. In paint (site or artistic) and coatings, it is used as a filler and pigment (fixed white), due to its low covering power and because it does not degrade colours. In silver photography, it is an essential element of the gelatin silver process.
It is used in medical radiology as a contrast and modifies the absorption of X-rays.