Article
Article
Celestite
Article By:
Chao, Edward C. T. U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior, Reston, Virginia.
Last reviewed:March 2021
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.115900
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A mineral with the chemical composition SrSO4. Celestite occurs commonly in colorless to sky-blue, orthorhombic, tabular crystals (see illustration). Fracture is uneven and luster is vitreous. Hardness is 3–3.5 on Mohs scale and specific gravity is 3.97. It fuses readily to a white pearl. It is only slowly soluble in hot concentrated acids or alkali carbonate solutions. The strontium present in celestite imparts a characteristic crimson color to the flame.
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