30-1-2 BARYTES Baryte or barite is a moderately soft crystalline mineral form of barium sulphate (BaSO4). Approximately, 80% barytes produced worldwide is used for oil and gas drilling as a weighting agent in the drill mud, primarily to prevent the explosive release of gas and oil during drilling. Its unique physical and chemical properties like heaviness, high specific gravity, chemical and physical inertness, very low solubility and magnetic neutrality. Barium compounds are utilised as filler, extender and aggregate. Baryte after converting to barium carbonate, is used in the manufacture of ceramic and glass. The Mangampet deposit in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh is the single largest barytes deposit in the world.