Barium

Abstract

Barium (Ba) is a common element in the Earth’s crust and is present at higher concentrations than most other trace elements, and naturally occurs in one oxidaton state (+II). Industrial uses of Ba are wide and variable including: oil and gas drilling muds. The most common minerals of Ba are barite and hollandite and in geochemical processes it is usually associated with K+. Barium is not very mobile in most soils although plants may take up Ba easily from acid soils, but there are few reports of toxic concentrations of Ba in plants.