These muds are made up almost entirely of an unusual heavy metal called barite.
From the al.com
Coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite and borate.
From the telegraph.co.uk
The barite, a particularly heavy substance, adds weight to the fluid mixture.
From the online.wsj.com
The mercury is present in an element called barite, the main ingredient in the muds.
From the al.com
The deeper the hole, the more barite is needed as a percentage of the total mud mix.
From the en.wikipedia.org
Crystals of calcite, quartz, dolomite or barite may line small cavities in the rock.
From the en.wikipedia.org
For nearly 50 years, prior to the EPA rule, there were no limits on mercury in barite.
From the al.com
The more barite in sediment, the more lively the oceans were at the time.
From the foxnews.com
It occurs in association with orpiment, arsenolite, calcite and barite.
From the en.wikipedia.org
More examples
Heavy spar: a white or colorless mineral (BaSO4); the main source of barium
A mineral, barium sulphate, with the chemical formula BaSO4
An industrial mineral, the principle ore of barium, used in textiles, paints, drilling muds, and pharmaceutical products.
Can be used in the removal of toxins from the body, to stimulate visions and to assist in the recovery from addictions. It helps to soothe and smooth the nervous system.
It occurs usually white and massive, but sometimes in lamellar and crested forms. The only place where it was found in distinct crystals was in the railroad cut as Scales Mound where it occurs in small cavities, as small but very perfect transparent crystals, associated with dolomite and pyrite. ...
Crystal healing power: The Desert Rose is the popular stone. Blue was very popular with the ancients, who used it to calm shock by placing it on the brow chakra. Used as healing stones for soldiers injured in battle. Gold is for honesty and dignity. Clear is for clarity of thought. ...
Commercial chemical agent added to mud drilling fluid to prevent it from freezing. See also aquagel; fibratex; gel-flake; impermex; micatex; smentex