Appearance
The orthorhombic crystal structure of Celestiteis one of its distinguishing characteristics. It commonly forms prismatic crystals with well-developed faces and sharp edges that have a distinctive tabular habit. The crystals can appear as single crystals or in clusters, and they can range in size from tiny to rather large.
Celestite is usually colorless, white, or even yellow, although it can also be pale blue to sky blue. Its crystal lattice contains traces of strontium, which gives it its blue color. Celestite often has a transparency of translucent to transparent. According to the Mohs scale, Celestite has a moderate hardness of 3 to 3.5, which means a knife can scratch it but a fingernail cannot.
Geographical Distribution
Around the world, Celestite can be found in a variety of locations. Celestite deposits have been found in a number of notable nations, including Madagascar, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, China, Iran, and other nations including Italy, Spain, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Morocco.
History
Throughout history, celestite has gone by a number of names, but since the 1790s, it has been officially recognized as celestite or celestine. The Latin word “caelestis,” which means “heavenly” or “celestial,” is where the term originated. It has been closely linked to the sky since its discovery and has been a tool for connecting with and receiving spiritual direction. Celestite stones were said to have formed from fragments of the sky that had fallen to Earth in ancient cultures.
Celestite is still commonly used in the metaphysical community and by energy healers today. Moreover, it is a major source of strontium, an element widely utilized in metal alloys and fireworks.
Metaphysical Properties
Some people think Celestite has metaphysical properties and encourages spiritual development, peace, and clarity. It is occasionally utilized in energy work, meditation, and crystal healing techniques.
Chemical Composition
Celestine’s chemical composition is as follows:
The components of Celestite are strontium (Sr), sulfur (S), and oxygen (O).
Their chemical formula is SrSO4.
Strontium Content: Strontium makes up a sizable amount of celestine’s chemical composition, making it the major element in the substance.
Sulphate Ion: The mineral Celestite is formed when strontium and the sulfate ion (SO42-) combine.
Uses
Celestine’s strontium content makes it useful for a variety of practical purposes. Here are a few important applications:
- Strontium Compounds: One major source of strontium is celestine, from which it is extracted and processed to create a variety of strontium compounds. These substances have a wide range of uses in several sectors, such as: a. Pyrotechnics: To create bright red colors, strontium compounds are employed in flares and fireworks.
- Glass and Ceramics: To improve qualities including clarity, hardness, and heat resistance, strontium compounds are added during the glass and ceramic manufacturing process..
- Radiography: In order to improve imaging, strontium compounds have been utilized as contrast agents in medical radiography.
- Gemstone and Mineral Specimens: Collectors and enthusiasts value the aesthetic features of Celestine. Because of its luster, crystal habit, and sky-blue color, it is frequently utilized in mineral specimen collections or cut and polished into gemstones.
- Industrial Applications: Due to its physical characteristics, Celestitecan be used in a number of industrial applications, such as:
- Cement: Celestiteis a little addition added to cement during the manufacturing process to increase concrete’s strength and longevity.
- Battery Manufacturing: Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries are among the battery types that use strontium compounds generated from celestine.
- Environmental Applications: To eliminate impurities and enhance water quality, wastewater treatment uses strontium compounds, especially strontium sulfate.
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