
Barite (BaSO 4) is a widespread mineral in deep-sea sediments, varying between 1% and 10% by weight on a carbonate-free basis.It is the predominant Ba phase in the ocean. BaSO 4 is known to compose a solid solution series with SrSO 4 as celestobarite in the skeletal portions of some marine organisms (i.e., the Xenophyophoria) and is often …