Barite heavyweight shielding concrete Barite concrete
BaSO4 · CAS 7727-43-7
Barite concrete is Portland-cement concrete in which barite (BaSO4) replaces the sand and limestone as the aggregate.
Evidence level
2 of 5
Lab-measured
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Recipe, share of the weight
- Ba not statedBarium
- S not statedSulfur
- O not statedOxygen
Best for
Thick, fixed gamma and X-ray shielding walls where density matters more than compressive strength (the 2024 study suggests non-structural shielding walls)
Weakest at
Compressive strength and abrasion resistance compared with ordinary concrete, and no long-term radiation durability data in the sources read
Risk at a glance
- People None found. Not classified hazardous in most PubChem reports
- If it fails Moderate. Lower compressive and tensile strength when barite replaces the fine aggregate
- Corrosion Moderate. Barite is more sensitive to abrasion than limestone, and the paper says this can lower strength.
Quick facts: Barite concrete
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.13 to 4.48 g/cm³ | 4 sourced values across conditions |
What is the density of Barite heavyweight shielding concrete?
Barite heavyweight shielding concrete has a density of 2.13 to 4.48 g/cm³. The range covers 4 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is Barite heavyweight shielding concrete used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Shielding around X-ray units, nuclear power plants and university nuclear research facilities; Medical radiation rooms, nuclear containment and accelerator facilities.
Why it exists
Barite concrete is a heavy version of ordinary Portland-cement concrete. The review describes barite, a barium sulfate mineral, as a dense aggregate for gamma and X-ray shielding. Denser concrete attenuates radiation better, so barite concrete is chosen where a thick, fixed wall must block gamma and X-rays. No flight or lunar test of barite concrete was found in the sources read in this run.
Where it's used
Hospitals, nuclear power plants and research facilities
The USGS says barite blocks X-ray and gamma-ray emissions well, so it is used as aggregate in high-density concrete around X-ray units in hospitals, nuclear power plants and university nuclear research facilities.
Medical rooms and accelerator facilities
The review calls barite and magnetite concretes among the most reliable materials for medical radiation rooms, nuclear containment and accelerator facilities where gamma attenuation matters.
Recipe
BaSO4
Barite is barium sulfate (BaSO₄), a dense mineral. In barite concrete it replaces the sand and limestone as the aggregate. The mix is Portland cement and water, mixed in a concrete mixer and cured in water, then air-dried.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Barium Ba | not stated | The heavy element that gives barite its high density and its ability to absorb gamma and X-rays. |
| Sulfur S | not stated | Part of the sulfate group that binds the barium into a dense, stable mineral. |
| Oxygen O | not stated | Four oxygen atoms per formula unit complete the sulfate group. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Shorter gamma path
the review's table gives a half-value layer of 5.6 cm for barite concrete against 8.4 cm for ordinary concrete for the same gamma sources.
More attenuation per unit thickness
the review says barite concrete can give 30 to 40% more attenuation than ordinary concrete for middle- to high-energy gamma rays.
Denser than ordinary concrete
3.07 to 3.55 g/cm3 against 2.13 to 2.39 g/cm3 in the same 2024 study.
Structural walls at moderate strength
the 2024 study's barite concrete reached 18.15 to 39.71 MPa in compression.
How it compares
Barite concrete is denser than ordinary concrete made with sand and limestone, and it attenuates gamma rays better. In the 2024 study, barite concrete had a density of 3.07 to 3.55 g/cm3 against 2.13 to 2.39 g/cm3 for ordinary concrete, and the review's table gives a half-value layer of 5.6 cm for barite concrete against 8.4 cm for ordinary concrete. Barite concrete is weaker in compression than ordinary concrete in the same study, reaching 18.15 to 39.71 MPa against 20.24 to 44.44 MPa. Pure barite is denser still, at 4.48 g/cm3 for the mineral.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details.
| Measurement | Barite concrete |
|---|---|
| Physical and electrical | |
| Density of the barite mineralValue stated in the text of an open-access paper | 4.48 g/cm³ |
| Density of the barite mineral (mineral data page)Value printed on a mineral data page | 4.48 gm/cc |
| Density of barite concrete | 3.07 to 3.55 g/cm³1 |
| Density of ordinary concrete (same study) | 2.13 to 2.39 g/cm³2 |
| Density increase of barite concrete over ordinary concreteStated in the text as approximately 45% | 45 %3 |
| Other measurements | |
| Compressive strength of barite concreteRange stated in the text of the paper | 18.15 to 39.71 MPa |
| Compressive strength of ordinary concrete (same study)Range stated in the text of the paper | 20.24 to 44.44 MPa |
| Linear attenuation coefficient of ordinary concrete (same study)Range stated in the abstract of the paper | 0.172 to 0.195 cm-1 |
| Half-value layer of barite concrete | 5.6 cm4 |
| Half-value layer of ordinary concrete (same table row) | 8.4 cm5 |
| Shielding improvement of barite concrete over normal concrete | 35 %6 |
| Attenuation gain of barite concrete over ordinary concrete (review statement) | 30 to 40 %7 |
| Increase in linear attenuation coefficient with barite as fine aggregateStated in the abstract of the paper | 28.4 %8 |
| Maximum decrease in compressive strength with barite as fine aggregateStated in the abstract of the paper as a maximum | 11.75 % |
| Maximum decrease in tensile strength with barite as fine aggregateStated in the abstract of the paper as a maximum | 19.75 % |
| Recommended water-to-cement ratio for least loss of mechanical strength | 0.45 -9 |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Thick, fixed gamma and X-ray walls in hospitals, nuclear plants and research facilities, where the review describes barite concrete as reliable.
- Non-structural shielding walls, which the 2024 study suggests as the main role for barite concrete.
Watch out for
- Lower compressive strength than ordinary concrete: 18.15 to 39.71 MPa against 20.24 to 44.44 MPa in the 2024 study.
- Brittle and abrasion-sensitive aggregate, according to the 2024 paper, which cites earlier work for this.
- No long-term durability data under continuous radiation, according to the review.
- Attenuation figures come from laboratory specimens, not from field walls.
Barite concrete is a dense, practical gamma shield for fixed walls. Its strength is lower than ordinary concrete, and no space test was found.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Density of barite concrete | Range stated in the text of the paper, which points to its Table 4 | form barite concrete, grades M15 to M45, tested at 28 days of curingtest mass divided by volume of the cured specimen | — |
| 2 | Density of ordinary concrete (same study) | Range stated in the text of the paper, which points to its Table 4 | form ordinary concrete with sand fine aggregate and limestone coarse aggregate, grades M15 to M45test 28-day curing, mass over volume | — |
| 3 | Density increase of barite concrete over ordinary concrete | — | basis the paper's own comparison of barite concrete with ordinary concrete, citing ref 41 | Printed as "approximately 45%". |
| 4 | Half-value layer of barite concrete | Value in a summary table of a systematic review, taken from the study it cites (Ahmad et al. 2024) | radiation Cs-137 and Co-60 gamma rays, 0.662 to 1.25 MeVform barite replacing coarse aggregate, as the review's table describes it | — |
| 5 | Half-value layer of ordinary concrete (same table row) | Value in a summary table of a systematic review, taken from the study it cites (Ahmad et al. 2024) | radiation Cs-137 and Co-60 gamma rays, 0.662 to 1.25 MeVform ordinary concrete, the comparison in the same row | — |
| 6 | Shielding improvement of barite concrete over normal concrete | Value in the Key Findings column of a systematic review's table | comparison barite concrete against normal concrete, gamma sourcesstudy Ahmad et al. 2024 | Printed as "~35%" (approximate). |
| 7 | Attenuation gain of barite concrete over ordinary concrete (review statement) | Statement in the review's introduction; the sentence gives no primary citation | energy middle- to high-energy gamma rayscomparison ordinary concrete | Printed as "up to 30-40% higher attenuation". The review does not cite a study for this sentence. |
| 8 | Increase in linear attenuation coefficient with barite as fine aggregate | — | material concrete cylinders with barite as fine aggregatesource cobalt-60 gamma sourcewater to cement ratio 0.30 to 0.45 | — |
| 9 | Recommended water-to-cement ratio for least loss of mechanical strength | Recommendation stated in the abstract of the paper | material barite mineral infused concretebasis least reduction in mechanical properties with acceptable shielding, per the authors | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Neutron and gamma irradiation (research-reactor thermal column; laboratory gamma sources) | low | Irradiation changed the crystal structure of barite concrete, but the authors found the change did not significantly affect its shielding.1 |
| Abrasion of the barite aggregate during mixing and service | moderate | Barite is more sensitive to abrasion than limestone, and the paper says this can lower strength.2 |
| Long-term radiation exposure, microcracking and leaching | not rated | Long-term durability of barite concrete under continuous radiation is not established in the reviewed studies.3 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neutron and gamma irradiation (research-reactor thermal column; laboratory gamma sources) | The authors report that neutron irradiation caused microscopic and crystallite changes, including crystallite-size expansion, and that these did not significantly impact the concrete's core shielding function. The paper also reports that barite shows higher expansion volumes than ordinary aggregates under irradiation, which it attributes to barite's higher density. | irradiation neutron irradiation in the thermal column of a research reactor, followed by X-ray diffractionmeasurement crystallite size and lattice spacing before and after irradiation |
| 2 | Abrasion of the barite aggregate during mixing and service | The 2024 paper states that barite is susceptible to brittleness and easy fracture under high compression, and that substituting barite for sand and gravel has adverse effects on mechanical strength, primarily because barite is more sensitive to abrasion than ordinary limestone aggregates. The paper cites earlier work for this claim and does not test abrasion itself. | basis statement in the paper, citing earlier work; abrasion not measured in this study |
| 3 | Long-term radiation exposure, microcracking and leaching | The review lists microcracking, leaching and mechanical degradation under continuous radiation as open research questions, and notes that most reviewed studies were run at laboratory scale. | basis the review's discussion of research needs; no long-term test data are cited for barite concrete |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
PubChem's summary of barium sulfate says most company reports do not meet GHS hazard criteria, but other notifications list hazard statements.
- The mineral
- PubChem records the barium sulfate record as 'does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 91% (1648 of 1811) of all reports'.
- Harmful if swallowed
- One ECHA notification summary lists 'H302 (16.6%): Harmful if swallowed' with the signal word Warning.
- Repeated exposure
- A separate notification lists H372, causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure, under the signal word Danger.
- Dust
- The sources read here give no barite powder safety data sheet and no dust limit. Check the supplier's data sheet before handling bulk powder.
In service
The concrete is set in place, so the main concerns are strength and ageing, not chemical exposure.
- Strength
- In one study, barite used as the fine aggregate lowered compressive and tensile strength.
- Ageing
- In a laboratory study with neutron irradiation, crystal structure changed, but the authors found no significant effect on the shielding function.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Lower compressive and tensile strength when barite replaces the fine aggregatemoderate severity | Barite used as the fine aggregate in the mixIn the 2019 study, compressive strength fell by a maximum of 11.75% and tensile strength by a maximum of 19.75%. |
| Brittle failure of the heavy aggregate under high compressionlow severity | High compressive load on barite concreteThe 2024 paper describes barite as susceptible to brittleness and easy fracture under high compression, and it suggests barite concrete for non-structural shielding walls rather than load-bearing parts. |
Handling and storage
- The 2024 study shortened the mixing time for barite concrete to prevent segregation of the dense aggregate.
- The sources read here give no barite powder safety data sheet and no dust exposure limit. Check the supplier's safety data sheet before handling bulk barite powder.
Mitigations
- Use a water-to-cement ratio of 0.45 to limit the loss of mechanical strength, as the 2019 study recommends.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Barite (barium sulfate mineral)
- Top producers (2025)
- India 34.5%, China 25.3%, Morocco 11.5%, Kazakhstan 8%, Mexico 3.4%
- Critical mineral lists
- EU: listed
- Recycling
- USGS barite chapter: 'Recycling: None.'
- Substitutes
- USGS: there are no large-scale alternatives to barite in oil- and gas-drilling fluids; the chapter does not discuss concrete shielding.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: barite-heavyweight-concrete
spore_version: 0.2
family: heavyweight-concrete
name: Barite heavyweight shielding concrete
abbreviation: Barite concrete
role: gamma and X-ray shield
category: shielding
type: spot-shields
summary: |
Barite concrete is Portland-cement concrete in which barite (BaSO4) replaces the sand and limestone as the aggregate. In a 2024 laboratory study, barite concrete had a density of 3.07 to 3.55 g/cm3, against 2.13 to 2.39 g/cm3 for ordinary concrete made in the same study (Ahmad et al., Scientific Reports). A review table gives a half-value layer of 5.6 cm for barite concrete against 8.4 cm for ordinary concrete, and the same review reports about 35% better shielding. The trade-off is compressive strength: barite concrete was weaker than ordinary concrete in the same 2024 study.
best_for: Thick, fixed gamma and X-ray shielding walls where density matters more than compressive strength (the 2024 study suggests non-structural shielding walls)
weakest_at: Compressive strength and abrasion resistance compared with ordinary concrete, and no long-term radiation durability data in the sources read
identity:
formula: BaSO4
cas: 7727-43-7
source: wiki-baryte
where: Lead paragraph ('a mineral consisting of barium sulfate') and infobox formula; the CAS number 7727-43-7 is in the Names and Identifiers section of PubChem CID 24414 (pubchem-barium-sulfate)
tags:
stresses:
- total-radiation-dose
applications:
- radiation-shielding
- structures
properties:
- benchmark: density
label: Density of the barite mineral
value: 4.48
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
material: barite mineral (BaSO4)
basis: value the paper gives for barite, with refs 27 and 41 cited
method: Value stated in the text of an open-access paper
status: ground
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: 'Results, Density of concrete section (text: ''a heavy mineral with a density of 4.48 g/cm3'')'
- benchmark: density
label: Density of the barite mineral (mineral data page)
value: 4.48
unit: gm/cc
scope: material
conditions:
material: barite mineral
basis: Density field of the physical properties table
method: Value printed on a mineral data page
status: ground
source: webmineral-barite
where: 'Physical Properties of Barite: Density field; note ''Specific Gravity of Barite =4.48 gm/cc'''
- benchmark: density
label: Density of barite concrete
value: 3.07
value_high: 3.55
bound: range
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
form: barite concrete, grades M15 to M45, tested at 28 days of curing
test: mass divided by volume of the cured specimen
method: Range stated in the text of the paper, which points to its Table 4
status: ground
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Density of concrete section, paragraph after Table 4
- benchmark: density
label: Density of ordinary concrete (same study)
value: 2.13
value_high: 2.39
bound: range
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
form: ordinary concrete with sand fine aggregate and limestone coarse aggregate, grades M15 to M45
test: 28-day curing, mass over volume
method: Range stated in the text of the paper, which points to its Table 4
status: ground
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Density of concrete section, paragraph before the barite result
- benchmark: density_increase_over_ordinary_concrete
label: Density increase of barite concrete over ordinary concrete
value: 45
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
basis: the paper's own comparison of barite concrete with ordinary concrete, citing ref 41
method: Stated in the text as approximately 45%
status: ground
note: Printed as "approximately 45%".
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Density of concrete section, paragraph on barite density
- benchmark: compressive_strength
label: Compressive strength of barite concrete
value: 18.15
value_high: 39.71
bound: range
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: barite concrete, grades M15 to M45 at 28 days
test: compression test on the cured specimen
method: Range stated in the text of the paper
status: ground
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Compression strength section, paragraph 1
- benchmark: compressive_strength
label: Compressive strength of ordinary concrete (same study)
value: 20.24
value_high: 44.44
bound: range
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
form: ordinary concrete, grades M15 to M45 at 28 days
test: compression test on the cured specimen
method: Range stated in the text of the paper
status: ground
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Compression strength section, paragraph 1
- benchmark: linear_attenuation_coefficient
label: Linear attenuation coefficient of ordinary concrete (same study)
value: 0.172
value_high: 0.195
bound: range
unit: cm-1
scope: material
conditions:
form: ordinary concrete, grades M15 to M45
sources: cobalt-60 and caesium-137 gamma sources
method: Range stated in the abstract of the paper
status: ground
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Abstract, Results sentence on ordinary concrete
- benchmark: half_value_layer
label: Half-value layer of barite concrete
value: 5.6
unit: cm
scope: material
conditions:
radiation: Cs-137 and Co-60 gamma rays, 0.662 to 1.25 MeV
form: barite replacing coarse aggregate, as the review's table describes it
method: Value in a summary table of a systematic review, taken from the study it cites (Ahmad et al. 2024)
status: ground
source: subaar2026
where: 'Table 1, row Ahmad et al. (2024), HVL column (''HVL: 5.6 cm (barite)'')'
- benchmark: half_value_layer
label: Half-value layer of ordinary concrete (same table row)
value: 8.4
unit: cm
scope: material
conditions:
radiation: Cs-137 and Co-60 gamma rays, 0.662 to 1.25 MeV
form: ordinary concrete, the comparison in the same row
method: Value in a summary table of a systematic review, taken from the study it cites (Ahmad et al. 2024)
status: ground
source: subaar2026
where: Table 1, row Ahmad et al. (2024), HVL column ('8.4 cm (ordinary)')
- benchmark: attenuation_improvement_over_normal_concrete
label: Shielding improvement of barite concrete over normal concrete
value: 35
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
comparison: barite concrete against normal concrete, gamma sources
study: Ahmad et al. 2024
method: Value in the Key Findings column of a systematic review's table
status: ground
note: Printed as "~35%" (approximate).
source: subaar2026
where: Table 1, row Ahmad et al. (2024), Key Findings column
- benchmark: attenuation_improvement_over_normal_concrete
label: Attenuation gain of barite concrete over ordinary concrete (review statement)
value: 30
value_high: 40
bound: range
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
energy: middle- to high-energy gamma rays
comparison: ordinary concrete
method: Statement in the review's introduction; the sentence gives no primary citation
status: ground
note: Printed as "up to 30-40% higher attenuation". The review does not cite a study for this sentence.
source: subaar2026
where: Section 1 (Introduction), paragraph beginning 'Recent research efforts'
- benchmark: linear_attenuation_increase
label: Increase in linear attenuation coefficient with barite as fine aggregate
value: 28.4
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
material: concrete cylinders with barite as fine aggregate
source: cobalt-60 gamma source
water_to_cement_ratio: 0.30 to 0.45
method: Stated in the abstract of the paper
status: ground
source: ahmad2019-ku
where: Abstract, Results sentence ('28.4% increase in linear attenuation coefficient')
- benchmark: compressive_strength_change
label: Maximum decrease in compressive strength with barite as fine aggregate
value: 11.75
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
material: concrete cylinders with barite as fine aggregate
water_to_cement_ratio: 0.30 to 0.45
method: Stated in the abstract of the paper as a maximum
status: ground
source: ahmad2019-ku
where: Abstract, Results sentence ('by a maximum of 11.75% and 19.75%')
- benchmark: tensile_strength_change
label: Maximum decrease in tensile strength with barite as fine aggregate
value: 19.75
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
material: concrete cylinders with barite as fine aggregate
water_to_cement_ratio: 0.30 to 0.45
method: Stated in the abstract of the paper as a maximum
status: ground
source: ahmad2019-ku
where: Abstract, Results sentence ('by a maximum of 11.75% and 19.75%')
- benchmark: optimum_water_cement_ratio
label: Recommended water-to-cement ratio for least loss of mechanical strength
value: 0.45
unit: '-'
scope: material
conditions:
material: barite mineral infused concrete
basis: least reduction in mechanical properties with acceptable shielding, per the authors
method: Recommendation stated in the abstract of the paper
status: ground
source: ahmad2019-ku
where: Abstract, final sentence ('the optimum water-to-cement ratio ... is 0.45')
corrosion:
- environment: Neutron and gamma irradiation (research-reactor thermal column; laboratory gamma sources)
headline: Irradiation changed the crystal structure of barite concrete, but the authors found the change did not significantly affect its shielding.
effect: The authors report that neutron irradiation caused microscopic and crystallite changes, including crystallite-size expansion, and that these did not significantly impact the concrete's core shielding function. The paper also reports that barite shows higher expansion volumes than ordinary aggregates under irradiation, which it attributes to barite's higher density.
rating: low
conditions:
irradiation: neutron irradiation in the thermal column of a research reactor, followed by X-ray diffraction
measurement: crystallite size and lattice spacing before and after irradiation
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Results, XRD analysis sections; Conclusion
- environment: Abrasion of the barite aggregate during mixing and service
headline: Barite is more sensitive to abrasion than limestone, and the paper says this can lower strength.
effect: The 2024 paper states that barite is susceptible to brittleness and easy fracture under high compression, and that substituting barite for sand and gravel has adverse effects on mechanical strength, primarily because barite is more sensitive to abrasion than ordinary limestone aggregates. The paper cites earlier work for this claim and does not test abrasion itself.
rating: moderate
conditions:
basis: statement in the paper, citing earlier work; abrasion not measured in this study
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Compression strength discussion, paragraphs 2 and 3
- environment: Long-term radiation exposure, microcracking and leaching
headline: Long-term durability of barite concrete under continuous radiation is not established in the reviewed studies.
effect: The review lists microcracking, leaching and mechanical degradation under continuous radiation as open research questions, and notes that most reviewed studies were run at laboratory scale.
rating: unknown
conditions:
basis: the review's discussion of research needs; no long-term test data are cited for barite concrete
source: subaar2026
where: Section 4 (Discussion), paragraph on limitations, and Section 5 (Conclusion)
risks:
hazards:
- text: 'PubChem summarises the barium sulfate record as: ''This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 91% (1648 of 1811) of all reports.'''
ghs: []
source: pubchem-barium-sulfate
where: Safety and Hazards, Hazards Identification, GHS Classification (CID 24414), first note
- text: 'PubChem also lists a second ECHA notification summary, with the hazard ''H302 (16.6%): Harmful if swallowed'' and the signal word Warning.'
ghs:
- H302
source: pubchem-barium-sulfate
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification, second ECHA notification summary
- text: 'PubChem lists ''H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure'' with the signal word Danger from a separate notification. No share of reports is printed for that entry.'
ghs:
- H372
source: pubchem-barium-sulfate
where: Safety and Hazards, GHS Classification, third notification entry
failure_risks:
- mode: Lower compressive and tensile strength when barite replaces the fine aggregate
trigger: Barite used as the fine aggregate in the mix
consequence: In the 2019 study, compressive strength fell by a maximum of 11.75% and tensile strength by a maximum of 19.75%.
severity: moderate
source: ahmad2019-ku
where: Abstract, Results sentence
- mode: Brittle failure of the heavy aggregate under high compression
trigger: High compressive load on barite concrete
consequence: The 2024 paper describes barite as susceptible to brittleness and easy fracture under high compression, and it suggests barite concrete for non-structural shielding walls rather than load-bearing parts.
severity: low
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Compression strength discussion, paragraph 2
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: The 2024 study shortened the mixing time for barite concrete to prevent segregation of the dense aggregate.
source: ahmad2024-sci
where: Fabrication of ordinary and barite concrete, paragraph 2
- text: The sources read here give no barite powder safety data sheet and no dust exposure limit. Check the supplier's safety data sheet before handling bulk barite powder.
source: pubchem-barium-sulfate
where: Not found in this run; PubChem record read for the hazard entries above
mitigations:
- text: Use a water-to-cement ratio of 0.45 to limit the loss of mechanical strength, as the 2019 study recommends.
source: ahmad2019-ku
where: Abstract, final sentence
uses:
- application: radiation-shielding
device: Shielding around X-ray units, nuclear power plants and university nuclear research facilities
example: The USGS says barite blocks X-ray and gamma-ray emissions well, so it is used as aggregate in high-density concrete shielding for X-ray units in hospitals, nuclear power plants and university nuclear research facilities.
source: usgs-mcs2026-barite
where: Domestic Production and Use, paragraph 2
- application: radiation-shielding
device: Medical radiation rooms, nuclear containment and accelerator facilities
example: The review says barite and magnetite concretes remain among the most reliable materials for medical radiation rooms, nuclear containment structures and accelerator facilities where gamma-ray attenuation is needed.
source: subaar2026
where: Section 4 (Discussion), paragraph 1
supply:
- subject: Barite (barium sulfate mineral)
producers:
- country: India
share_percent: 34.5
year: 2025
- country: China
share_percent: 25.3
year: 2025
- country: Morocco
share_percent: 11.5
year: 2025
- country: Kazakhstan
share_percent: 8
year: 2025
- country: Mexico
share_percent: 3.4
year: 2025
critical_lists:
- list: EU critical raw materials list (Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, as shown on the European Commission page, which lists Baryte)
listed: true
recycling: 'USGS barite chapter: ''Recycling: None.'''
substitutes:
- 'USGS: there are no large-scale alternatives to barite in oil- and gas-drilling fluids; the chapter does not discuss concrete shielding.'
source: usgs-mcs2026-barite
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e (world total 8,700 thousand t; shares calculated by Space Mushroom against that total, which includes Other countries); Recycling; Substitutes
media: []
documents:
- title: 'Radiation Shielding Performance of Different Concrete Materials: A Systematic Review (arXiv 2601.10336, open access)'
type: paper
url: https://www.arxiv.org/pdf/2601.10336
year: 2026
- title: Improvement of concrete shielding to nuclear radiations using barite mineral as fine aggregate (Journal of Engineering Research, Vol 7 No 4)
type: paper
url: https://journals.ku.edu.kw/jer/index.php/JER/article/view/5817
year: 2019
- title: Enhancing shielding efficiency of ordinary and barite concrete in radiation shielding utilizations (Scientific Reports 14, 26029)
type: paper
url: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-76402-0
year: 2024
- title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Barite'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-barite.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'PubChem: Barium Sulfate (CID 24414), GHS classification and CAS'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Barium-sulfate
year: 2026
- title: 'Webmineral: Barite mineral data'
type: database
url: https://webmineral.com/data/Barite.shtml
year: 2026
gaps:
- No flight, vacuum, lunar or Mars test of barite concrete was found in the sources read in this run. The review mentions space missions only in general terms.
- Linear attenuation coefficients and half-value layers for the barite concrete grades in the 2024 study are in tables that are not in the text version of the paper, so they are not recorded. Only the review's table values (5.6 cm and 8.4 cm) are used.
- The review's text gives a higher linear attenuation coefficient for barite concrete from Azeez et al. (2019) than its own table gives for the same study. The two disagree, so neither is recorded.
- The review's table describes the barite in the Ahmad et al. (2024) study as replacing the coarse aggregate, while the 2024 paper says barite is used as both coarse and fine aggregate. Both are noted; the mix is not settled.
- The USGS 2025 List of Critical Minerals page refused access and could not be read, so barite's status on the USGS list is not recorded.
- USGS import shares for the recent import years (India, China, Morocco, Mexico) are printed in the barite chapter but are not recorded in supply, because the supply schema takes one year per country.
- Corrosion and chemical durability of barite aggregate in cement (leaching, sulfate attack, humidity) were not found in the sources read in this run.
- No barite powder safety data sheet was read. Hazard entries rest on the PubChem record for barium sulfate.
- Compressive strength and half-value layer are not canonical property names in spores/property-canon.yaml; short snake_case names are used.
- 'No designations (UNS, EN, ASTM or trade codes) are recorded: none was printed in the sources read for this material.'
- Mohs hardness of barite is printed on the webmineral page with a calcite and copper-penny note, but no Mohs unit is printed, so it is not recorded.
- No profile type fits barite concrete in src/data/taxonomy.ts under the shielding category, so the type field is left out.
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-11-01'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 16
unreachable: 1
caveats: 2
note: Written by an AI assistant on 2026-11-01 from eight sources read in this run. Values are copied as printed. The USGS 2025 critical-minerals page returned HTTP 403 and was not read.
story:
recipe:
line: Barite is barium sulfate (BaSO₄), a dense mineral. In barite concrete it replaces the sand and limestone as the aggregate. The mix is Portland cement and water, mixed in a concrete mixer and cured in water, then air-dried.
parts:
- name: Barium
symbol: Ba
role: The heavy element that gives barite its high density and its ability to absorb gamma and X-rays.
- name: Sulfur
symbol: S
role: Part of the sulfate group that binds the barium into a dense, stable mineral.
- name: Oxygen
symbol: O
role: Four oxygen atoms per formula unit complete the sulfate group.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 0
verdict: Not classified hazardous in most PubChem reports
lead: PubChem's summary of barium sulfate says most company reports do not meet GHS hazard criteria, but other notifications list hazard statements.
points:
- label: The mineral
line: PubChem records the barium sulfate record as 'does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 91% (1648 of 1811) of all reports'.
- label: Harmful if swallowed
line: 'One ECHA notification summary lists ''H302 (16.6%): Harmful if swallowed'' with the signal word Warning.'
- label: Repeated exposure
line: A separate notification lists H372, causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure, under the signal word Danger.
- label: Dust
line: The sources read here give no barite powder safety data sheet and no dust limit. Check the supplier's data sheet before handling bulk powder.
- title: In service
lead: The concrete is set in place, so the main concerns are strength and ageing, not chemical exposure.
points:
- label: Strength
line: In one study, barite used as the fine aggregate lowered compressive and tensile strength.
- label: Ageing
line: In a laboratory study with neutron irradiation, crystal structure changed, but the authors found no significant effect on the shielding function.
why: Barite concrete is a heavy version of ordinary Portland-cement concrete. The review describes barite, a barium sulfate mineral, as a dense aggregate for gamma and X-ray shielding. Denser concrete attenuates radiation better, so barite concrete is chosen where a thick, fixed wall must block gamma and X-rays. No flight or lunar test of barite concrete was found in the sources read in this run.
uses:
- where: Hospitals, nuclear power plants and research facilities
line: The USGS says barite blocks X-ray and gamma-ray emissions well, so it is used as aggregate in high-density concrete around X-ray units in hospitals, nuclear power plants and university nuclear research facilities.
- where: Medical rooms and accelerator facilities
line: The review calls barite and magnetite concretes among the most reliable materials for medical radiation rooms, nuclear containment and accelerator facilities where gamma attenuation matters.
can_do:
- label: Shorter gamma path
line: the review's table gives a half-value layer of 5.6 cm for barite concrete against 8.4 cm for ordinary concrete for the same gamma sources.
- label: More attenuation per unit thickness
line: the review says barite concrete can give 30 to 40% more attenuation than ordinary concrete for middle- to high-energy gamma rays.
- label: Denser than ordinary concrete
line: 3.07 to 3.55 g/cm3 against 2.13 to 2.39 g/cm3 in the same 2024 study.
- label: Structural walls at moderate strength
line: the 2024 study's barite concrete reached 18.15 to 39.71 MPa in compression.
compare: Barite concrete is denser than ordinary concrete made with sand and limestone, and it attenuates gamma rays better. In the 2024 study, barite concrete had a density of 3.07 to 3.55 g/cm3 against 2.13 to 2.39 g/cm3 for ordinary concrete, and the review's table gives a half-value layer of 5.6 cm for barite concrete against 8.4 cm for ordinary concrete. Barite concrete is weaker in compression than ordinary concrete in the same study, reaching 18.15 to 39.71 MPa against 20.24 to 44.44 MPa. Pure barite is denser still, at 4.48 g/cm3 for the mineral.
compare_rows:
- label: Density
benchmark: density
- label: Compressive strength
benchmark: compressive_strength
- label: Half-value layer
benchmark: half_value_layer
handling:
- Shorten the mixing time for barite concrete to prevent the dense aggregate from separating, as the 2024 study did.
- Check the supplier's safety data sheet before handling bulk barite powder, since none was read here.
- Keep the mix at a water-to-cement ratio of 0.45, as the 2019 study recommends, to limit strength loss.
good_for:
- Thick, fixed gamma and X-ray walls in hospitals, nuclear plants and research facilities, where the review describes barite concrete as reliable.
- Non-structural shielding walls, which the 2024 study suggests as the main role for barite concrete.
watch_out:
- 'Lower compressive strength than ordinary concrete: 18.15 to 39.71 MPa against 20.24 to 44.44 MPa in the 2024 study.'
- Brittle and abrasion-sensitive aggregate, according to the 2024 paper, which cites earlier work for this.
- No long-term durability data under continuous radiation, according to the review.
- Attenuation figures come from laboratory specimens, not from field walls.
verdict: Barite concrete is a dense, practical gamma shield for fixed walls. Its strength is lower than ordinary concrete, and no space test was found.
sources:
subaar2026:
title: 'Radiation Shielding Performance of Different Concrete Materials: A Systematic Review'
id: arXiv:2601.10336
url: https://www.arxiv.org/pdf/2601.10336
year: 2026
kind: paper
license: arXiv preprint (licence not read in this run)
ahmad2019-ku:
title: Improvement of concrete shielding to nuclear radiations using barite mineral as fine aggregate
id: Journal of Engineering Research, Vol 7 No 4 (2019), Civil Engineering
url: https://journals.ku.edu.kw/jer/index.php/JER/article/view/5817
year: 2019
kind: paper
license: journal article page (licence not read in this run)
ahmad2024-sci:
title: Enhancing shielding efficiency of ordinary and barite concrete in radiation shielding utilizations
id: doi:10.1038/s41598-024-76402-0 (Scientific Reports 14, 26029)
url: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-76402-0
year: 2024
kind: paper
license: open-access journal (licence not read in this run)
usgs-mcs2026-barite:
title: Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Barite
id: USGS MCS 2026, February 2026
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-barite.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: public domain (USGS)
pubchem-barium-sulfate:
title: PubChem compound record, Barium Sulfate (CID 24414)
id: CID 24414; CAS 7727-43-7
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Barium-sulfate
year: 2026
kind: database
license: public domain (NCBI)
webmineral-barite:
title: 'Webmineral: Barite mineral data'
id: webmineral.com, barite data page (accessed 2026)
url: https://webmineral.com/data/Barite.shtml
year: 2026
kind: database
license: web page (licence not read in this run)
ec-crm:
title: Critical raw materials (European Commission, list under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252)
id: Regulation (EU) 2024/1252
url: https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials_en
year: 2024
kind: web
license: European Commission web page
wiki-baryte:
title: Baryte (Wikipedia)
id: Wikipedia article 'Baryte' (accessed 2026)
url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barite
year: 2026
kind: web
license: CC BY-SA 4.0
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radiation Shielding Performance of Different Concrete Materials: A Systematic Review | paper | 2026 | 6 values | |
| Improvement of concrete shielding to nuclear radiations using barite mineral as fine aggregate | paper | 2019 | 6 values | |
| Enhancing shielding efficiency of ordinary and barite concrete in radiation shielding utilizations | paper | 2024 | 11 values | |
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Barite | report | 2026 | 2 values | |
| PubChem compound record, Barium Sulfate (CID 24414) | database | 2026 | 4 values | |
| Webmineral: Barite mineral data | database | 2026 | 1 value | |
| Critical raw materials (European Commission, list under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252) | web | 2024 | 0 values | |
| Baryte (Wikipedia) | web | 2026 | 1 value |
Updated