It is a high quality drilling grade Barite (Barium Sulphate) used to increase the density of drilling fluids. It is the most widely used drilling weight material due to its high specific gravity. It meets API 13A requirements.
Barytes (or barite) is a naturally occurring mineral form of barium sulphate. It is extracted by both surface and underground mining. Its main properties are its high specific gravity 4.2 – 4.5, very low solubility; it is non-toxic, and also chemically and physically non-reactive, low abrasiveness and opaqueness to x-rays.