| Unusual properties of heavy spar BaSO4, one of the natural barium compounds attracted alchemists& |
Alkaline Earth Metal Barium crustal abundance is of about 0.065%. The most common naturally occurring minerals are the very insoluble barium sulfate, BaSO4 (barite, heavy spar), and barium carbonate, BaCO3 (witherite), as well as silicates & alumosilicates.
The deposits there are estimated to contain 2x109 tons, mostly in China & in Kazakhstan as well as in USA, India, Turkey, Morocco & Mexico. In Russia deposits are estimated to contain 2x106 tons in Khakasia, Chelyainsk and Kemerovo regions. World annual production barite production is 7x106 tons, Russia extracts 5x103 tons and imports annually 25x103 tons.
Barium is permanently present in plants organs its concentration in plants ashes varies from 0.06-0.2 to 3% in barite deposits areas. Barium accumulation coefficient (the ratio of quantity in ashes/quantity in the soil) for herbage plants equals 0.2-6, for woody plants 1-30. Barium concentrates more in roots and branches, less in leaves. It increases with the plant age. Barium is toxic for animals if barium concentration in herbs ashes is 2-30%. Small quantities of barium are deposited in bones and other animal organs. |