
Custom cushion-cut celestite, 5.12 cts, 10.6 x 8.9 mm, Madagascar. © The Gem Trader. Used with permission.
Soft, fragile, and hard to cut, celestite or celestine is seldom seen in gem 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.

Celestites in a geode, 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 dispersion.
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, but 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: Canada (1.5). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.
Stone Sizes
Celestite gems, usually colorless or pale blue, typically weigh under three carats and 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.

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