Relatively soft, silvery-white metal. Obtained from BaO on heating with
aluminum. Attacked by air and water. Used mainly as BaSO4 in drilling
fluids for oil and gas exploration; small amounts used in paints, glass,
etc
Diagnostic tests:
A yellowish green coloration of the flame test is given by all barium
salts, except the silicates and phosphates.
In solution, the presence of barium is proved by the heavy white
precipitate formed by the addition of dilute H2SO4.
References
Emsley, J., 1991; THE ELEMENTS : Sec. Ed.,
Clarendon Press, Oxford, 251 p.
(* - Mineral Name Is Not IMA Approved)
(! - New Dana classification added or changed from Danas New Mineralogy)
(? - IMA Discredited Mineral Species Name)
There are 287 minerals with Ba in the Mineralogy Database.