STRONTIANITE
strontianite - mineral 14.1.3.3

	Chemical Formula	SrCO3
	Composition	Strontium carbonate, usually containing some calcium
	Variable Formula	(Sr,Ca)CO3
	Color	Colorless, white, grayish-white, pale green to yellow, light pink to brown
	Streak	White
	Hardness	3½ - 4
	Crystal Forms and Aggregates	(Orthorhombic) Usually occurs as dense, fragile, fibrous veins or massive, containing microscopic needles or plates. Also occurs in bundles of long, curved crystals, and thin, long, sharply pointed needles. Also occurs radiating, fibrous, grainy, and columnar. Rarely occurs in pseudohexagonal trillings and singular prismatic or tabular crystals.
	Transparency	Transparent to translucent
	Specific Gravity	3.7
	Luster	Vitreous. Greasy on cleaved surfaces.
	Cleavage	1,1 - prismatic ; 3,1 - basal
	Fracture	Uneven
	Tenacity	Brittle
	Other ID Marks	Some specimens fluoresce blue or bluish-white in shortwave ultraviolet light. May also thermoluminesce.
	Other Names	Strontian
	In Group	Carbonates ; Aragonite group
	All About	Strontianite is a fragile mineral and care should be exercised when handling.
	Uses	Strontianite is an ore of strontium, used in the refining of sugar and the production of fireworks.
	Striking Features	Interesting crystal habits, weight, and hardness
	Complex Tests	Weakly effervesces in hydrochloric acid and eventually dissolves in it
	Popularity (1-4)	2
	Prevalence (1-3)	3
	Demand (1-3)	2
	Distinguishing Similar Minerals	Calcite - lighter in weight, usually forms in different crystal aggregates Aragonite - lighter in weight Cerussite and Witherite - heavier
	Commonly Occurs With	Calcite, Celestine, Fluorite
	Noteworthy Localities	Some of the best specimens are from Drensteinfurt, Westphalia, Germany, where large veins of Strontianite contained pockets of fine crystals. Strontianite is found in the Black Forest and Harz Mountains of Germany. A famous locality, from which the name Strontianite is derived, is Strontian, Argyll, Scotland. Small, prismatic trillings come from Oberndorf, Styria, Austria, and spiky aggregates from Tuscany, Italy. In the U.S. it occurs in Mount Union, Mifflin Co., Pennsylvania; the Winfield Quarry (formerly known as the Meckley Quarry), Mandata, Union Co., Pennsylvania; the Strontium hills near Barstow, San Bernardino Co., California; Death Valley, Inyo Co., California; and Lake Conner, Skagit Co., Washington. In Canada it has been obtained at Nepean, Ontario and the Francon Quarry, Montreal, Quebec.
	Picture Icon Links	1. 2.
	Picture Links	1. Radiating, ball-like aggregate of spiky crystals 2. Radiating cluster of spiky crystals

Additional references

• The Mineral Gallery (Amethyst Galleries)
• Mineralogy Database (David Barthelmy)
• Alkali-Nuts (Marc Favre)