Here is a polished, website-ready rewrite with a professional and informative tone: Barytes (Barite) Barytes, also known as barite, is a naturally occurring mineral composed of barium sulfate (BaSO₄). It is typically white or colorless in appearance and serves as the primary source of barium. Before use, barytes is finely ground to a uniform particle size to ensure consistent performance. It is widely utilized as a filler or extender in various industrial products and as a weighting agent in petroleum well drilling mud due to its high specific gravity and chemical stability.