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Chemical Formula | SrSO4 | ||||||
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Composition | Strontium sulfate, sometimes with small amounts of barium | ||||||
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Variable Formula | (Sr,Ba)SO4 | ||||||
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Color | Blue, white, colorless, orange, orange-brown, light brown, yellow, greenish-blue, gray. Crystals may also be light blue on one end and colorless on the other. | ||||||
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Streak | White | ||||||
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Hardness | 3 - 3½ | ||||||
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Crystal Forms and Aggregates |
(Orthorhombic) Occurs as prismatic and tabular crystals, and as thin tabular plates. May also occur as thick, pseudohexagonal trillings, as well as dense aggregates of such crystals. Also occurs massive, radiating, grainy, and nodular. Also occurs as cleavage fragments, as fibrous masses, as dense clusters of tabular crystals, as fragile, elongated crystal clusters, and as fillings in geodes. Crystals are may be striated. | ||||||
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Transparency | Transparent to translucent | ||||||
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Specific Gravity | 3.9 - 4.0 | ||||||
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Luster | Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces | ||||||
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Cleavage | 1,1 - basal ; 2,1 - prismatic ; 3,1 - pinacoidal | ||||||
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Fracture | Uneven | ||||||
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Tenacity | Brittle | ||||||
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Other ID Marks | 1) May fluoresce in shortwave ultraviolet light 2) Sometimes thermoluminescent |
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Other Names |  Celestite |
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In Group | Sulfates ; Anhydrous sulfates | ||||||
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All About | Pure Celestine is
colorless, but impurities may give
this mineral a wide range of colors. The most common color is light blue, and is thought
to be caused by irradiation of gold.
This light blue tint may be present in a whole specimen, or may only be confined to one
area. Celestine is isomorphous with Barite, and may partially replace it. |
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Uses | Celestine is the most common mineral containing the element strontium, and is its primary ore. Fine specimens are in high demand by collectors. | ||||||
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Striking Features | Crystal forms, color zoning in many specimens, and hardness | ||||||
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Popularity (1-4) | 2 | ||||||
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Prevalence (1-3) | 2 | ||||||
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Demand (1-3) | 1 | ||||||
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Distinguishing Similar Minerals |
Barite - Very difficult to distinguish
without locality information Gypsum - softer (2), sectile, lighter in weight (2.3 - 2.4) Calcite - perfect rhombohedral cleavage, lighter in weight (2.7), effervesces in hydrochloric acid Feldspars - harder (6), lighter in weight Fluorite - forms only in isometric crystals, lighter in weight (3.0 - 3.3), has perfect cubic cleavage Colemanite - harder (4 - 4½), lighter in weight (2.4) |
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Commonly Occurs With |
Calcite, Barite, Fluorite, Gypsum, Dolomite, Galena, Sphalerite, Strontianite, Pyrite, Colemanite, Halite, Sulfur (Limestone) | ||||||
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Noteworthy Localities |
Fine Celestine specimens
can be obtained from many localities. Well-formed, pale-blue crystals occur in Spaia
Dolina, Bohemia, Czech Republic; Tarnowitz, Poland; and Carrara, Tuscany, Italy. Blue and
white crystals are found associated with bright yellow Sulfur crystals in the famous Sicilian sulfur
mines of Cattolico and Agrigento, Italy. Fine crystals come from Yate in Gloucester,
England, and enormous crystals, some in geodes,
were found in Madagascar (Katsepe area). In Canada, an orange Celestine has been reported near Toronto at Orangeville. In Mexico, Celestine is found in Niaca, Chihuahua, and Matehuala, San Luis Potosi. The best specimens of this mineral come from the U.S. The first U.S. occurrence in Lockport, Niagara Co., New York, was discovered while digging the Erie Canal. The state of Ohio contains perhaps the greatest deposits, particularly South Bass Island in Lake Erie, where giant pale blue crystals were obtained. Also in Ohio are Lime City and Portage, both in Wood Co., and Clay Center, where the Celestine occurs with pale brown Calcite and Fluorite on limestone. Large, colorless crystals associated with Colemanite were found in geodes in the Death Valley area in Inyo Co., California., and pale blue crystals associated with Strontianite in the Calico Hills District in San Bernardino Co., California. Celestine also occurs in Maybee, Michigan; Adamsville, Lampasas Co., Texas; Cripple Creek, Teller Co., Colorado; and Manitou Springs, El Paso Co., Colorado. |
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Picture
Icon Links |
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Picture Links | 1. Large, bluish cleavage fragment 2. Colorless Celestine crystal blades 3. Greenish-blue crystal cluster |
