Estroncianita
Estroncianita is a mineral with formula SrCO₃, in the Carbonato group. This specimen comes from Mathilde Mine, Ascheberg, Münster, Renania del Norte-Westfalia, Alemania.
Description
Large specimen with a large cavity filled with fibrous-prismatic, fractal-like aggregates of strontianite. Massive piece, exceptional in scale for the species. Shows strong fluorescence and weak phosphorescence.
About Estroncianita
Strontianite is strontium carbonate and one of the classic minerals that gave economic importance to several localities in north-west Germany. Its interest lies not only in the species, but also in the historical period when strontium had industrial demand, especially in the sugar industry and in pyrotechnic uses, as strontium produces an intense red colour in fireworks.
About the locality
One of the best localities in the world for strontianite. Ascheberg ranks among the best-known European localities for strontianite, both for the quality of its specimens and for its historical weight within that brief but intense period of regional mining. Now abandoned, but known for its dumps that still yield the odd pleasant surprise.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0281
- Composition
- SrCO₃
- Name
- Estroncianita
- Group
- Carbonato
- Category
- Cavella
- Matrix
- Calcita gris
- Mine
- Mathilde Mine
- District / Municipality
- Ascheberg
- Province
- Münster
- Region
- Renania del Norte-Westfalia
- Country
- Alemania
- Size (cm)
- 18 x 8.2 x 6.8
- Weight
- 1,200 g
- Etymology
- From Strontian, Scotland, the mineral’s reference locality and the source of the name of strontium.
- Quality
- Notable
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Arsénico (Nativo) — Alemania
- Autunita — Alemania
- Hematites (Especularita Azul) — Alemania
- Natrozippeita — Alemania
- Plata (Filiforme) — Alemania
- Probertita — Alemania
- Uraninita (Pechblenda) — Alemania
- Uranocircita — Alemania