Name/Title
CelestineEntry/Object ID
2004.1.56Description
Assemblage Zone: pegmatite dikes
Chemical Composition: SrSO4, Strontium Sulfate
Crystal System: Orthorhombic System
Description: Common Name:Celestine
Group Name: Barite
Chemistry: SrSO4, Strontium Sulfate
Location: Sakoany mine, Madagascar
Description: Light grey with very light blue crystals inside. Very heavy.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is usually blue but can also be colorless, yellow and tints of red, green and brown.
Luster is vitreous.
Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m 2/m 2/m
Crystal Habits include the bladed crystals that are dominated by two large pinacoid faces top and bottom and small prism faces forming a jutting angle on every side. There are many variations of these faces but the flattened blades and tabular crystals are the most common. If the pinacoid faces become diminished or are absent, the resulting prismatic crystal has a rhombic cross section. This habit is rather common in specimens from Madagascar. Also nodular, fibrous or granular.
Cleavage is perfect in one direction, less so in another direction.
Fracture is conchoidal.
Hardness is 3 - 3.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.9+ (above average for translucent minerals)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are calcite, gypsum, strontianite, sulfur and fluorite.
Other Characteristics: red color in flame test (see above), some specimens fluoresce under UV light.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, color and flame test.
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 3 Calcite
Luster: Vitreous
Occurrence: Celestine occurs as crystals, and also in compact massive and fibrous forms. It is mostly found in sedimentary rocks, often associated with the minerals gypsum, anhydrite, and halite
Notable Occurances include Lake Erie region of Ohio, Michigan and New York USA; Madagascar; Sicily and Germany.
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 3.9
Streak: white
Variety: Celestite is a favorite among mineral collectors. Its sky blue (or celestial) color is very pretty, and is unique in the mineral kingdom. Celestite also forms with other colorful minerals, making very nice combinations. Blue Celestite with bright yellow sulfur is one of the most famous colorful combinations of minerals. Celestite has the same structure as Barite (BaSO4), and forms very similar crystals. The two may seem identical by ordinary methods, but a flame test can distinguish them. By scraping the dust of the crystals into a gas flame, the color of the flame will confirm the identity of the crystal. If the flame is a pale green, it is barite, but if the flame is red, it is celestite. The flame test works because the elements barium (Ba) and strontium (Sr) react with the flame and produce those colors. Normally barite is not blue, but many specimens of blue barite are often misidentified as celestite.Collection
Suomynona Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2004.1Source or Donor
Suomynona Mineral CollectionAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
12 inDepth
13 inLength
16 inDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Wall
EastBuilding
Freida L Smith HallCategory
PermanentMoved By
Steve MillerDate
August 1, 2013Location
Drawer
CenterShelf
2nd Tier, 2nd TierWall
EastBuilding
Freida L Smith HallCategory
PermanentMoved By
Steve MillerDate
October 23, 2012Location
Container
RightDrawer
BottomShelf
Right, RightWall
NorthBuilding
Freida L Smith HallCategory
PermanentMoved By
Scott LonganDate
August 25, 2009Location
Cabinet
Case # 29Wall
EastBuilding
Freida L Smith HallCategory
Permanent
