Celestite

Mineral formula: SrSO₄

Mineral group: member of the barite group

Crystal system: orthorhombic

Crystal habit: Crystals commonly thin to thick tabular, usually with lath-like forms; or elongated with equant cross section. Sometimes pyramidal, commonly striated. Occurs as fibrous veinlets or nodules with parallel or radiated fiber structure; or as massive granular deposits.

Cleavage: Perfect on {001}; on {210} good; on {010} poor. Also reported on {011}

Fracture: irregular, uneven

Color: colorless to shades of light blue, gray, brown, green, red

Luster: vitreous, pearly

Diaphaneity: transparent to translucent

Moh’s scale hardness: 3 – 3 ½   

Streak: white

Specific gravity: 3.96 – 3.98

Named after: “celestite” and “celestine” come from celestial, of the heavens, probably referring to its characteristic light blue color. Originally named fasriger schwerspath by Andreas Gotthelf Schütz in 1791. Renamed schwefelsaurer strontianite aus Pennsylvania by Martin Klaproth in 1797. Renamed by Abraham Gottlieb Werner in 1798 in German zoelestin from the Greek cœlestis for celestial, in allusion to the faint blue color of the original specimen. Renamed Schützit by Dietrich Ludwig Gustav Karsten in 1800. Although far superior celestine crystals were previously known from Sicily, they were thought to be barium-rich as the element strontium was not discovered until the late 1780s and not formally described until 1792.

Type locality: Bell's Mill, Bellwood, Blair Co., Pennsylvania, USA 

Geological occurrence: Occurs mainly in sedimentary rocks such as bedded deposits of gypsum and halite; also in bedded limestone and dolomite, in cavities. Fibrous veinlets in sedimentary rocks.

Energetic properties: a gentle, high vibrational crystal, linked to third eye, crown and heart. Celestite supports high vibrational communication (as with angels and other higher spiritual beings), new viewpoints, communication, expression and creativity, and lightens mood, bringing inner peace and trust. Enhances blissful silence, meditation, and intuition.