Mineral - Celestine
Celestine
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Sulphates
Toxicity
none
Formula
Sr[SO₄]
Unit Cell
a=8.36 b=5.35 c=6.87 Z=4
Physical Properties
Hardness
3 - 3.5
Streak
white
Density
Heavy (3,5-6)
Cleavage
Perfect after {001}, good after {210}, poor after {010}
Fracture
uneven
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
blueturquoisecolorless
Birefringence
0.010
Luster
Vitreous,
Pearly
Transparency
translucent,
transparent
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
orthorhombic
Point Group
orthorhombic-dipyramidal - 2/m 2/m 2/m
Space Group
Pnma (62)
Habit
prismatic, tabular
Formation
Sedimentär, hydrothermal
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Very common
Synonyms
Celestine, Celestite, Coelestine, Eschwegite, Coelestin
Composition
Elements
Mass
SO₃
43.40
CaO
0.40
SrO
56.20
Tunisia (Palache et al. 1952)
Groups and Members
Baryte-Group