Minerals Yearbook, 1990: Barite

摘要

Domestic production of barite increased more than 53% to 445,000 metric tons, while the value increased about 20% to $15.9 million. Barite production has remained relatively stable for the past 4 years except for a marked decrease in production in 1989. Production from Nevada, the leading producing State, increased about 62%. Imports for consumption of crude barite remained about the same, and ground barite imports increased 22%. Imports of barite exceeded domestic production for the ninth consecutive year, but the import figure of 988,000 tons for 1990 was about 1.1 million tons below the record-high tonnage of 1982. Ground barite imports, except for the drilling boom years of the late 1970's and early 1980's, have been negligible. The principal use for barite, as a weighting agent in oil- and gas-well-drilling fluids (muds), accounted for more than 92% of U.S. consumption. Chemical, glass, and filler and/or extender uses accounted for the remainder.