Celestine
Species
Uncommon · SrSO₄
Strontium sulfate forming in sedimentary evaporite deposits, in cavities of carbonate rocks and in hydrothermal veins. Its name comes from the Latin for celestial, for its usual pale blue. The main ore of strontium, whose compounds colour fireworks red.
Identity
- Formula
- SrSO₄
- Chemical class
- Sulfate
- Mineral group
- Barite
- Also known as
- Celestite
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Habits
- Tabular, Prismatic, Massive, Nodular
- Fracture
- Uneven
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.96 g/cm³
- Luster
- Vitreous, Pearly
- Colors
- pale blue, colorless, white, pink, pale green
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- Transparent, Translucent
Geology
- Origins
- Sedimentary
- Host rocks
- Limestone and chalk, Salt beds
- Associated minerals
- Sulfur, Calcite, Gypsum, Anhydrite
- Found in
- Evaporite deposit
- Geography
- Madagascar, USA, UK, Germany, Italy
Classification
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Gem quality
- No
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- Air, Light
- Effects
- Warding, Scrying
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
Sources
- M. Pasero and others, IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, The New IMA List of Minerals, updated September 2026. International Mineralogical Association (CNMNC), 2026.
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Celestine. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
- Celestine. Gemdat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- Strontium. U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025, 2025.
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