FAQs
What is Barite?
Barite or Barytes (Barium Sulphate) is a mineral largely used as a weighting agent for drilling fluids in oil and gas exploration.
Other uses of barite are in added-value applications, such as:
Fillers in paint and plastics
Sound reduction in engine compartments
Friction products for automobiles and trucks
Radiation-shielding concrete e.g. for X-ray rooms
Glass ceramics
Medical applications e.g. a Barium meal before a CAT scan
Why a Barite mine at Duntanlich?
This is the only known significant barite orebody in the UK that is economic to work. The orebody Duntanlich Mine could supply the whole of the UK’s requirements for more than 50 years at planned production rates, ensuring a guaranteed indigenous supply of Barite for the UK North Sea oil and gas industry.
How much Barite can Duntanlich Mine produce?
The mine could produce 120,000 tonnes of Barite per annum (around three times the average output of Foss) from an underground operation with a surface footprint less than a quarter of Foss Mine. This is enough to make the UK self-sufficient in Barite.
What will happen to the old Foss Mine?
Foss Mine closed once Duntanlich Mine commenced production and will go through a full site remediation process once all equipment has been cleared.
What qualifications are required to work at the mine?
Miners are generally trained on the job or we bring in specialist trainers as required. Specialists such as mining engineers or geologists have tertiary qualifications, either degrees or appropriate National Occupational Standards (NOS) equivalents.
Will you offer apprenticeships?
There may be an opportunity for an engineering apprentice.
