Integrated mineralogical, microstructural, and thermal characterization of Azara barite Nasarawa State, Nigeria and its implications for radiation shielding materials

This study presents a comprehensive physicochemical, structural, and thermal characterization of barite ore obtained from the Azara deposit in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, with the aim of evaluating its properties relevant to radiation shielding materials. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed barite (BaSO₄) as the dominant crystalline phase, with minor contributions from associated minerals including graphite, silicon oxide, and anhydrite. The estimated crystallite sizes ranged from 56.67 to 84.13 nm, indicating well-defined crystalline structures. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analysis confirmed the elemental composition of the sample, with an empirical barite purity of approximately 74.42%, consistent with values reported for naturally occurring barite ores. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified characteristic sulphate functional groups associated with BaSO₄, along with minor silicate and organic-related bands. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed compact and irregular particle morphologies with relatively low visible porosity, which may contribute to increased packing density in composite materials. Thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric (TGA/DTG) analyses indicated good thermal stability of the dominant mineral phase within the investigated temperature range, with observed mass losses mainly attributed to surface-bound moisture and minor impurity phases. The measured specific gravity (4.34) and density (4340 kg m⁻³) are consistent with typical values reported for high-density barite minerals. Overall, the combined mineralogical, chemical, microstructural, and thermal properties suggest that the Azara barite deposit possesses characteristics favourable for potential use as a high-density component in radiation shielding materials. Further studies involving direct photon attenuation measurements are recommended to quantitatively evaluate its shielding performance.