Barite would be colorless if pure, but radiation-damage centers commonly
cause color. O- (in some blue crystals), SO3-
(in
some honey-yellow and blue crystals), and SO2- (in
yellow crystals) centers have been identified in barite.
Barite absorption spectrum
Honey-yellow barite, 4 K;
from Meikle Mine, Carlin, Nevada. Plotted as 20.0 mm thick. The spectrum
of this material does not show the bands ascribed to the color centers
mentioned above. Data Files: E||a 19 K;
E||b 18 K; E||c
20 K.
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