Celestina
Celestina is a mineral with formula SrSO₄, in the Sulfatos group. This specimen comes from Sakoany, Katsepi, Mitsinjo, Boeny, Madagascar.
Description
Very good crystallisation. Elongate piece with one face covered by thick, well-formed blue celestine crystals, translucent with vitreous lustre. Flat faces and sharp edges.
About Celestina
Celestine is the strontium-rich counterpart in the baryte and anglesite group. Famous for forming in sedimentary cavities, it delights collectors with the transparency and brilliance of its blue crystals. It stands out for its unexpected weight owing to its high density, though it requires careful handling due to its low hardness (3 on the Mohs scale) and high fragility. It also serves as the primary source of strontium.
About the locality
Sakoany (in Katsepy, Boeny) is Madagascar's classic locality for blue celestine, noted for having produced tonnes of pale to medium blue crystals. After its discovery in 1967, workings began on the seashore itself, then moved a few hundred metres to higher ground (+15 m). Today the deposit is worked by numerous small, irregular pits in the ground that reach 15 metres in depth.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0514
- Composition
- SrSO₄
- Name
- Celestina
- Group
- Sulfatos
- Mine
- Sakoany
- District / Municipality
- Katsepi
- Province
- Mitsinjo
- Region
- Boeny
- Country
- Madagascar
- Etymology
- From Latin "caelestis" ("celestial").
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Barita — España
- Barita — Italia
- Barita (Amarilla) — Italia
- Celestina — Madagascar
- Euxenita-(Y) — Madagascar
- Yeso (Lapis Specularis) — España
- Estaurolita — Madagascar
- Yeso — España