Celestite on Sulfur Girgenti Sicily Italy
Celestine or celestite (SrSO4) is a mineral consisting of strontium sulfate. The mineral is named for its occasional delicate blue color. Celestine occurs as crystals, and also in compact massive and fibrous forms. It is mostly found in sedimentary rocks, often associated with the minerals gypsum, anhydrite, and halite. The mineral is found worldwide, usually in small quantities. Pale blue crystal specimens are found in Madagascar. The bodies of Acantharea are made of celestine, unlike those of other radiolarians which are made of carbonate marine sediments, burial dissolution is a recognised mechanism of celestine precipitation. The largest known celestine geode is located near the village of Put-in-Bay, Ohio on South Bass Island in Lake Erie. The geode is 35 feet in diameter at its widest point. It has been converted into a viewing cave, and the crystals which once composed the floor of the geode have been removed. The Crystal Cave has celestine crystals as wide as 18 inches across and weighing up to an estimated 300 lb.
Size: 4962px × 3551px
Photo credit: © Phil Degginger/Jack Clark Collection / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: celestite, crystal, crystals, exotic, geology, girgenti, italy, mineral, minerals, rare, rock, rocks, sicily, specimen, specimens, srso4, strontium, sulfate, sulfur
