Barium
The most common naturally occurring minerals of the metal barium (Ba) is barite and witherite. Both are insoluble when placed in water.
Barium is a silver coloured soft metallic alkaline earth metal that is never found in nature as a free element. It doesn't occur as a mineral. Barium was first recognised as an element in 1774 but wasn't reduced to a metal until 1898 after the technology of using electrolytic isolation was discovered. The silver colour of barium disappears quickly through oxidation when exposed to air as it forms a dark grey oxide layer. It gives good electrical conductivity, however, many properties of barium are still to be accurately measured.
English chemist Sir Humphry Davy isolated pure barium from molten barium oxide in 1808 but because of its high reactivity the uses of pure barium was limited throughout the following years. However, in later years it was found useful in the removing of unwanted oxygen from the cathode ray tubes of television sets and other electronic vacuum tubes.
As a Direct Contrast to Pure Barium, Barium Minerals Have Wide Uses
The uses of barium minerals are wide and varied and includes the following:
Its other uses include an additive to aluminium – silicon alloys to refine their structures such as when:
Other uses of barium are as follows:
Barium salts were used as medication in the early 19th century but as they were found to be toxic the practice was discontinued. The only use barium has in medicine these days is the barium meal. This is a barium sulphate used in radio-imaging of the human digestive tract. Unlike barium salts, barium sulphate is not able to be absorbed into the body, therefore it has no ill effects.
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Australian Mines that produce Bauxite
Gove (NT)
Up to 600 workers employed at the Gove bauxite refinery in the Northern Territory face an uncertain future as Pacific Aluminium suspends alumina production.
Ely (QLD)
The Ely Alcan Queensland Pty Ltd agreement at the Weipa bauxite mine is due to expire in 2041 but an option will give it a further 21 years extension.
Skardon River (QLD)
Gulf Alumina acquired 100 percent of the Skardon River tenement in 2011 from its koalin mining joint partner to develop the mining of bauxite at the site
Weipa (QLD)
The Weipa bauxite mine on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland is both owned and operated by Rio Tinto Alcan.
Huntly (WA)
The Huntly mine in Western Australia is the largest bauxite mine in the world currently producing about 23 million tonnes of bauxite annually.
Willowdale (WA)
The Willowdale bauxite mine that commenced production in 1984 still processes 10 million tonnes of bauxite a year at the nearby Wagerup Refinery.
Worsley (WA)
The Worsley bauxite mine and alumina refinery in South West Western Australia employs more than 1,800 people and produces 4.6 million tonnes of alumina annually.
South Aurukun (QLD)
The South Aurukun bauxite tenements on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland are held by Gulf Alumina.
Marchinbar Island (NSW)
The Marchinbar Island bauxite deposit in far north Northern Territory could be mined to satisfy a growing demand from China in the near future.
Kwinana Refinery (WA)
The Kwinana refinery in WA employs around 1,000 direct employees with 60 percent living in the nearby towns of Rockingham, Cockburn and Kwinana.
Wagerup Refinery (WA)
The Alcoa owned Wagerup alumina refinery in W.A. has received governmental approval to lift alumina production from 2.6 to 2.65 million tonnes annually.
Pinjarra Alumina Refinery (WA)
The Pinjarra alumina refinery, near Mandurah south of Perth, is an important part of Alcoa's three refinery system in Western Australia.
Portland Aluminium Smelter (VIC)
The Portland Aluminium smelter in western Victoria, a joint venture operation between Alcoa, CITIC and Marubeni, caters solely to the Asian market.
Felicitas (WA)
The Felicitas bauxite project in Western Australia contains a bauxite resource of 220 million tonnes that will give it a life of mine of 25 years
South Of Embley (QLD)
Despite Rio Tinto placing its South of Embley bauxite project in Cape York, Queensland, on hold for 18 months it still considers it a 'good project.'
Bauxite Hills (QLD)
The Bauxite Hills Project on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland is hoping to take advantage of an expected increase in the demand for Alumina.
Bald Hill (TAS)
Australian Bauxite Limited's Bald Hill mine, in Tasmania, is to start production in December, 2014. It is the first new bauxite mine in Australia, for over 35 years.
Urquhart Point (QLD)
The Urquhart Point Heavy Mineral Sands Project in Cape York in Far North Queensland is expected to begin production in mid-2015.
Amrun (QLD)
The Amrun bauxite project in far north Queensland, that was previously known as the 'South of Embley' project has been approved for development and expected to be in production by 2019.
