NATURAL RESOURCES- Barite

Barite is the mineral barium sulphate, and is found as veins within the sandstones and conglomerates of the Lower Old Red Sandstone on Arran. Hydrothermally deposited from hot aqueous solutions supersaturated with barite, the veins are in places as thick as 8m. In Glen Sannox (NS007452), anastomosing veins of barite can be seen on the south bank of Sannox Water.

Also in Glen Sannox are the remains of adits, a self acting tramway, mine shafts and pits as well as spoil heaps associated with the mining of barite. The mining chiefly occurred from 1836 to 1832 where over 600 tons per year were extracted. The war effort required the re-opening of the mine and once again production occurred from 1918 to 1936. The ore was crushed and sorted on Arran and then shipped to the mainland. It was used and a filler in paper production and in the manufacture of barium chemicals. Because of itís very high specific gravity barite is used as a component of lubricating slurries in geological drilling to help prevent blowback.