Baryte used for drilling petroleum wells can black , blue , brown or gray depending on the ore body. The barite is finely ground so that at least 97% ofv the material , by weight , can be less than 6 Om diameter. The ground barite also must be dense enough so that its specific gravity is 4.2 or greater ,soft enough to not damage the bearings of a tricone drill bit, chemically inert, and containing no more than 250 miligrams per kilogram of soluble alkaline.

Other uses are in added-value applications which include filler in paint and plastics,sound reduction in engine Compartments , coat of automobile finishes for smoothness and corrosion resistance , friction products for automobiles and trucks , radiation-shielding cement , glass ceramics and medical applications.