Barium is most commonly found as the mineral barite (BaSO4) and witherite (BaCO3) and is primarily produced through the electrolysis of barium chloride (BaCl2). Barium is used as a getter, a material that combines with and removes trace gases from vacuum tubes.
Where is barium from?
Occurrence and production. The abundance of barium is 0.0425% in the Earth's crust and 13 μg/L in sea water. The primary commercial source of barium is baryte (also called barytes or heavy spar), a barium sulfate mineral. with deposits in many parts of the world.
Where is the mineral barium found?
Barium constitutes about 0.03 percent of Earth's crust, chiefly as the minerals barite (also called barytes or heavy spar) and witherite. Between six and eight million tons of barite are mined every year, more than half of it in China. Lesser amounts are mined in India, the United States, and Morocco.