Barite

Symbol	BaSO₄

This is a short overview. For the background — history, value over time and notable mines — see Barite →

Occurs in: Hydrothermal Deposits →

A dense, chemically inert mineral (barium sulphate), recovered by crushing and gravity dressing, often alongside lead or fluorspar ores. Valued mainly as a weighting agent in drilling fluids, and in paints and fillers.

Mines

Show these mines on the map

Mine	Region	Worked
Auchencairn Mine	Dumfries and Galloway	18th century–1961
Bog Mine	Shropshire	1730s–1924
Bonsall Leys Mines	Derbyshire	1540s–19th century
Bryntail Lead Mine	Powys	Worked from the late 18th century–1884
Burgham Mine	Shropshire	to 1893 (abandonment plan)
Cabbish Mine	Cumbria	From 1859–1930
Carshield Mine	Northumberland	1770s–1913
Clive Mine	Shropshire	17th century–1869
Closehouse Mine	County Durham	From 1937–Late 1990s
Cononley Mine	North Yorkshire	1842–1881 (baryte recovery to 1958)
Cothercott Mine	Shropshire	1910–1928
Cow Green Mine	County Durham	From late 18th century–1954
Deer Hills Baryte Mine	Cumbria	From 1961–After 1961
Dirtlow Rake Mine	Derbyshire	at least 17th century–20th century
Driggith Mine	Cumbria	17th or 18th century–1940s
Dry Gill Mine	Cumbria	1846–1869
Duntanlich Mine	Perth and Kinross	from 2016
Fallowfield Mine	Northumberland	From 1611–1911
Flushiemere Barytes Mine	County Durham	—
Force Crag Mine	Cumbria	1839–1990
Foss Mine	Perth and Kinross	1984–2021
Frank Mills Mine	Devon	1847–1880
Frizington Iron Mines	Cumbria	19th century–By late 1970s
Gasswater Mine	East Ayrshire	From 1870s–1963
Gatten Mine	Shropshire	c. 1887–1945
Golconda Mine	Derbyshire	From the 18th century–1953 (reported)
Good Luck Mine	Derbyshire	25 October 1830–1952
Grassington Moor Mines	North Yorkshire	16th century–1880
Hartside Mine	Cumbria	By 1921–1950
Hilton and Scordale Mines	Cumbria	By the 18th century–After 1919
Huglith Mine	Shropshire	c. 1800–1945
Hurst Mines	North Yorkshire	By late 16th century–1890 (brief 1938 rework at Prys Mine)
Langley Barony Mine	Northumberland	1868–1893
Lead Mines Clough	Lancashire	c.680-1000–1837 (mines sealed 1930)
Longstone Edge	Derbyshire	worked from at least the 18th century (lead veins)–2009
Lunehead Mine	County Durham	By 1882–1942 (discontinued)
Milldam Mine	Derbyshire	1885–October 2023
Muirshiel Barytes Mine	Renfrewshire	mid-18th century–1969
Odin Mine	Derbyshire	1280 (documented)–1869
Pennerley Mine	Shropshire	By the 18th century–1884
Perkinsbeach Mine	Shropshire	1850s (lead)–1912
Potts Ghyll Mine	Cumbria	1844–1940s
Rimington Lead Mines	Lancashire	Later 16th century–1885
Roughton Gill Mine	Cumbria	12th century (earliest possible)–17th century
Ruthwaite Mine	Cumbria	1910–1925
Sallies Mine	Shropshire	to 1947
Silverband Mine	Cumbria	From the 19th century–1960s (closure)
Snailbeach Mine	Shropshire	1781–1955
Stonecroft and Greyside Mine	Northumberland	1851–1898
Stony Grooves Mine	North Yorkshire	13th century–1889
Strontian Mines	Highland	1725–1991
Tankerville Mine	Shropshire	From early 19th century–1911-13
Threlkeld Quarry and Mine	Cumbria	1870–1982
Van Mine	Powys	1862–1922
Westcott Mine	Shropshire	from 1753