Celestite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

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Celestite: Madagascar (16.3). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Celestine

Soft, fragile, and hard to cut, celestite or celestine is seldom seen in collections. Large, clean faceted celestites are very rare. These gems are usually colorless or pale blue, but rare orange, green, yellow, and red shades have also been found.

Celestine Information

Data	Value
Name	Celestine
Crystallography	Orthorhombic, Crystals common, usually tabular; also nodules, earthy, massive.
Refractive Index	1.622-1.635
Colors	Colorless, white, gray, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red shades.
Luster	Vitreous; pearly on cleavage.
Hardness	3 - 3.5
Fracture	Uneven
Specific Gravity	3.97–4.00
Birefringence	0.009 – 0.012
Cleavage	Perfect 1 direction, good 1 direction
Dispersion	0.014
Heat Sensitivity	Yes
Luminescence	Blue in SW. Blue or dull yellow in LW. May phosphoresce blue-white.
Luminescence Present	Yes
Luminescence Type	Fluorescent, Phosphorescent, UV-Long, UV-Short
Transparency	Transparent.
Absorption Spectrum	Not diagnostic.
Formula	SrSO₄
Pleochroism	Weak, in shades of indigo blue, bluish green, and violet.
Optics	a = 1.622 – 1.625; β = 1.624; γ = 1.631 -1.635. Biaxial (+), 2V = 50°
Optic Sign	Biaxial +
Etymology	From the Latin coelestis for “celestial,” in allusion to the delicate and lovely pale blue color often displayed by this mineral.
Occurrence	Celestite occurs in sedimentary rocks, especially limestones; it is also found in hydrothermal vein deposits, sometimes in igneous rocks.
Inclusions	Single phase, liquid inclusions; partially healed fractures.

“Celestite,” Sakoany deposit, Katsepy Commune, Mitsinjo District, Boeny Region, Mahajanga Province, Madagascar. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Comments

The minerals barite and celestite form a series. Baryte lies at the barium (Ba) end; celestite at the strontium (Sr) end. This mineral is a major source of strontium.

While transparent crystals aren’t rare per se, facetable gem-quality material is quite rare. Faceted gems show little fire.

“Celestine,” Bull Creek, near Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Identifying Characteristics

Gems from Madagascar have refractive indices as follows: a = 1.619; γ = 1.631.

Synthetics

None known.

Enhancements

Blue gems may fade because of heat or light. Irradiation may restore the color.

Sources

Canada produces rare orange crystals. Tsumeb, Namibia also yields gem-quality material.

United States: California; Colorado; Strontian Islands, Lake Erie, Michigan (gemmy material); Chittenango Falls, New York; Clay Center, Put-in-Bay, Ohio; Lampasas, Texas (gemmy blue material).
Austria; Egypt; Bristol, England; France; Germany; Italy; Madagascar; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; Russia; Girgenti, Sicily; Switzerland; Tunisia.

“Celestite 21,” Crystal Cave, by James St. John. Licensed under CC By 2.0.

Stone Sizes

Celestite gems, usually colorless or pale blue, typically weigh under three carats. Such stones often receive step cuts. However, some gems are known in the 30-carat range. Large, transparent crystals may be found and cut.

Put-in-Bay, Ohio boasts the Crystal Cave, “the world’s largest geode.” Converted into a cave, the 35′ wide geode contains celestite crystals up to 18” across.

Devonian Group (Calgary, Alberta, Canada): 20.1 cts (blue, Madagascar).
National Museums of Canada (Ottawa, Ontario): 3.11 cts (orange step cut, Ontario, Canada).
Private collection: 2.98 cts (blue, New York)

Care

Due to its softness, perfect cleavage, and light sensitivity, this gem makes a better collector’s item than a jewelry piece. Celestites also have great heat sensitivity. Since jeweler’s torches can easily exceed 200° C (392° F) and cause the stone’s colors to fade, be wary if you take a jewelry piece to be repaired. Consult our gemstone jewelry cleaning guide for more recommendations.