Barite nanocrystals are common and abundant in the troposphere over the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, Poland. Much higher temperatures of coal burning for industrial purposes resulted in thermal decomposition of barite into BaO, which could react with airborne sulfuric acid to produce nanometre-sized secondary barite. Formation of both the secondary barite and gypsum in the troposphere contributes to the lowering of acidity of rain over Upper Silesia. These activities will release barite to the local marine environment. In general, the anthropogenic applications may have a limited impact on the global environment.
Barium is part of an abiotic deposition-dissolution cycle that is activated by organic materials.
These conditions may exist in volcanogenic-sedimentary deposits. Barium minerals do not appear to be common in volcanic ejecta although this situation may reflect a sampling and analysis bias rather than prove their absence. Coal burning is probably the most efficient process that significantly releases barite into the environment for regional and semi-global aeolian dispersal in the troposphere. Coal burning for both domestic and industrial uses is the major source of dust and gas emissions in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region, Poland. Barite crystals and veinlets were commonly observed filling fractures in coal seams in Upper Silesia.