Name/Title
StrontianiteEntry/Object ID
2009.62.109Description
Chemical Composition: Strontium Carbonate
Crystal System: Orthorhombic System
Description: Common Name: Strontianite
Chemistry: SrCO3, Strontium Carbonate
Group: Carbonate
Location: Hardin County, Illinois
Description: A mixure of various crystal shapes and colors. There are a few clumps of light brown, fine needle-like crystals with a few large darker brown orthorhombic crystals pertruding from the former. There is also a grouping of small dull white crystals adjacent to the other structures.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is white, colorless, gray, yellowish or greenish.
Luster is vitreous to greasy.
Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m 2/m 2/m
Crystal Habits include compact, granular, concretionary and massive forms. Crystals are uncommon and are usually pointed and nearly acicular in radiating clusters or tufts. Also forms a psuedo-hexagonal trilling twin is similar to, but is far rarer than aragonite's famous twin.
Hardness is 3.5-4
Specific Gravity is 3.7+ (above average for transparent minerals)
Cleavage is notable in one direction and poor in another.
Fracture is subconchoidal to uneven.
Streak is white.
Other Characteristics: effervesces in only warm HCl solutions or when powdered in cold HCl.
Associated Minerals include fluorite, celestite, galena, calcite and aragonite.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habits, reaction to acid and density
Fracture: Subconchoidal
Hardness: 4 Flourite
Luster: Vitreous
Occurrence: Strontianite (SrCO3) is a mineral consisting of strontium carbonate, named after the village of Strontian, Lochaber, Scotland, where it was first discovered. This mineral is white, greenish, or yellowish in color, usually occurring in fibrous massive forms, but sometimes in prismatic crystals. It is an important raw material for the extraction of strontium.
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 3.7
Streak: white
Variety: Strontianite, strontium carbonate, is mainly found as a low-temperature mineral in limestone and also found as a gangue mineral in sulphide veins. It almost always fluorescent.Collection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2009.62Source or Donor
Museum Collection of MineralsAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
2-1/4 inDepth
3 inLength
3-1/2 inWeight
0.66 ozLocation
Location
Display Case
FS-5-ARoom
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumDate
January 3, 2024Location
Container
CenterDrawer
2nd shelfShelf
Right, RightWall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Steve MillerDate
January 22, 2010Location
Drawer
3rd from the rightShelf
far right bottom, far right bottomWall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Jacob RierDate
September 25, 2009Location
Container
CenterDrawer
Top ShelfShelf
LeftCabinet
Case# 32Wall
EastBuilding
Freida Smith HallCategory
Permanent