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CELESTITE CRYSTALS & GEODES FOR SALE
Are Celestine And Celestite The Same Mineral?
Celestite is a synonym of celestine, so they refer to the same mineral. Celestine is the approved name for this crystal according to the International Mineralogical Association though celestite is more commonly used, even in mineralogical texts.
What Color Are Celestite Crystals?
Pure celestite is colorless, but other mineral impurities in the crystals give it color. Most people are familiar with the common sky-blue celestite crystals from Madagascar, but it can also range from orange to yellow to greenish grey, and can even be slightly multi-colored or zoned.
About Madagascar Celestite
The blue celestite that most people are familiar with comes from northwestern Madagascar. Large crystals and geodes are frequently found there.
This famous Madagascar locality discovered in 1967 annually produces about 15 tons of the material. It is located near the village of Sakoany, on the western side of the banks of the Betsiboka River. The celestite-bearing layer is found in a maximum 30-meter thick lens between layers of crinoidal limestones and sandy greywacke from the end of the Cretaceous. It is mined by digging shafts up to 15 meters (50 feet) deep to reach the deposits. The celestite occurs mainly as 2 different types: as geodes up to a maximum size of 60 centimeters in diameter, and as crystal clusters up to 15 centimeters in diameter.
Where Else Is Celestite Found?
Other noteworthy localities for celestite are Italy and Poland, where it is frequently associated with sulfur; Spain; several quarries in Ontario; and Ohio, which may have the largest deposits.
The Celestite Crystal Cave In Ohio
Northwestern Ohio has probably the largest deposits of celestine in the world. The famous "Crystal Cave” is located in Put-in-Bay, Ohio and is considered the world’s largest geode! Workers discovered it in 1897 while digging a well for the winery 40 feet above. The walls of this cave are lined with massive tabular celestine crystals that range from 8 inches to a whopping 3 feet in length! Originally the crystals were harvested and sold as a source of strontium for the manufacture of fireworks, but the winery now runs tours into this impressive geological formation.
Where Does Celestite Get Its Name?
Celestite derives its name from the Latin word caelestis, meaning celestial, which in turn is derived from the Latin word caelum, meaning sky or heaven. This is appropriate given its sky-blue crystals!
How Does Celestite Form?
Celestite typically forms in sedimentary rocks, particularly dolomites and dolomitic limestones, though it can also form in hydrothermal veins and in cavities in igneous rocks. It forms as a groundwater or low-temperature hydrothermal precipitate, meaning the crystals are formed when groundwater deposits the mineral in cavities in host rock.
Celestine geodes such as those found in Madagascar are formed by replacement of alabaster nodules consisting of the calcium sulfates gypsum or anhydrite. Calcium sulfate is highly soluble, but strontium sulfate is mostly insoluble. Strontium-bearing solutions that come into contact with calcium sulfate nodules dissolve the calcium away, leaving a cavity. The strontium is immediately precipitated as celestite, growing the crystals in the newly-formed cavity.
What Is Celestite Used For?
Celestite is a principal source of the element strontium. It has been used in the manufacture of fireworks because of its ability to burn with a bright red flame. It has also found some use in the manufacture of certain types of glass. Because of its beautiful coloration and crystals, it’s popular among mineral collectors and the healing crystal community, who believe it has a calming effect on the body.
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