BGS Risk List (8)

So, to recap so far we have had beryllium at 10 and carbon at 9, so now onto the element in at number 8…barium. Although it’s name might not be the most striking, keep on reading because this element has a colourful past (the pun will make sense by the time you’ve finished reading!)

(In case you can’t quite remember the scoring system for the rankings just click here)

RANKING:

8

ELEMENT NAME AND SYMBOL:

Barium (Ba)

RELATIVE SUPPLY RISK INDEX:

8.1

WHY?:

Barium is not found independently on Earth, it has to be isolated from minerals, the most common one used being barite (BaSO₄). Again, China holds the majority of the world’s barite supply, and so it risks include being held at a political ransom.

LEADING PRODUCER:

China

TOP RESERVE HOLDER:

China

WHY THE DEMAND?:

The coolest use of barium has to be that it is the pigment which gives green fireworks their colour! Aside from that it is also used for its colouring in paints and ceramics.

It is also added to some metal alloys because it refines their structures, as well as being used in taking X-rays on the gastrointestinal tract. The mineral barite is used in gas and oil as a drilling fluid, and therefore is very much in demand in this industry.