110 
WITHERITE. 
Witherite is composed of barium carbonate, (BaC0 3 ). It 
is usually found as a vein mineral or filling cavities in rocks. 
There is none produced in Canada. 
USES. 
The only use, according to the knowledge of the writer, 
to which this mineral is put in Canada is in the enamelling of 
metal ware. The finely ground material is mixed with other 
substances, applied to the metal, and then heated to the point of 
fusion. 
In the manufacturing of chemicals, witherite is frequently 
used as a source of barium for barium compounds; for example, 
in the preparation of the barium peroxide used in making hydro 
gen peroxide (H 2 0 2 ). It is used in some countries in the refining 
of beet sugar, but this use is decreasing. 
Amount of witherite used in the manufacturing industries, 
as reported by the consumers:— 
Location 
No. of firms 
reporting 
consumption 
Domestic 
Imported 
Tons 
Tons 
2 
90 
British Columbia 
— 
— 
— 
Canada (Total) 
2 
— 
90