AllMineralsRock
Barite Vs. Gypsum
Barite is a popular mineral composed of barium sulfate.[1] Gypsum is a very popular mineral and its chemical composition is calcium sulfate.[2]
Quick Facts on Differences of Barite and Gypsum
For a quick recap of the differences barite and gypsum:- In terms of crystallography, barite is orthorhombic while gypsum is monoclinic.
- For chemical formulas, barite is BaSO4 while gypsum is CaSO4· 2H2O.
- While both barite and gypsum can be pearly or vitreous, in terms of luster, barite can be resinous.
- While both barite and gypsum can be commonly red, gypsum is often brown or yellow.
- Barite's hardness is higher than gypsum - barite ranges from 3 to 3.5 and gypsum ranges from 1.5 to 2 on the Moh's scale.
- Barite's specific gravity is higher than gypsum - barite ranges from 4.3 to 4.5 and gypsum ranges from 2.3 to 2.32.
Quick Facts on Similarities of Barite and Gypsum
The similarities of barite and gypsum include:- Barite and gypsum both can be opaque, translucent or transparent.
- Barite and gypsum both streak white.
- Barite's rarity is similar to gypsum.
Summary of Barite
Barite is a mineral that is commonly found in sedimentary rocks such as limestone and dolomite. It is a heavy mineral with a specific gravity of 4.5, which is much higher than most other minerals. Barite is typically white or colorless, but it can also be yellow, brown, blue, or red depending on the impurities present in the mineral. It has a vitreous luster and a hardness of 3-3.5 on the Mohs scale.Summary of Gypsum
Gypsum is a soft, white or gray mineral that belongs to the sulfate mineral family. It is composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O) and is commonly found in sedimentary rocks. Gypsum is often found in thick beds or layers, and its crystals are usually flat and elongated. It has a hardness of 2 on the Mohs scale and a specific gravity of 2.3. One of the unique properties of gypsum is that it loses water when heated, which makes it an excellent material for making plaster.Table Comparison of Barite vs Gypsum
| Barite (src) | Gypsum (src) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | transparent, translucent, opaque | transparent, translucent, opaque |
| Chemical Formula | BaSO4 | CaSO4· 2H2O |
| Chemical Composition | barium sulfate | calcium sulfate |
| Specific Gravity | 4.3, 4.5, 4.6 | 2.3, 2.32, 2.33 |
| Hardness | 3, 3.5 | 1.5, 2 |
| Streak | white | white |
| Crystallography | orthorhombic | monoclinic |
| Refractive Index | 1.636, 1.648 | 1.52, 1.53 |
| Hydrous | No | Yes |
| Colors | common: red sometimes: gray, yellow less common: blue, pink, black, brown, green, white, orange, purple, colorless, multicolor |
common: brown, red, yellow sometimes: blue, green, white, orange less common: tan, gray, pink, beige, black, colorless, band |
| Fracture | uneven | uneven |