NOTE: While Celestine is the correct name, Celestine is often referred to as Celestite. To facilitate Internet search we include the incorrect name of Celestite in brackets every time we write Celestine (Celestite).

CELESTINE (CELESTITE) is a name applied to native strontium sulphate (SrSO 4).

Celestine (Celestite) derives its name from the Latin term caelestis which means “of the sky” and refers to the blue color commonly observed in Celestine (Celestite). This colour has been attributed to a trace of iron phosphate, but in some cases such an explanation is doubtful. Celestine (Celestite) is usually colourless, or has only a delicate shade of blue. Celestine (Celestite) darker blue plates and geodes are found in Madagascar.

Celestine (Celestite) crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, being isomorphous with baryte. The angle between the prism faces is 76° 17'. The cleavage of Celestine (Celestite) crystals is perfect parallel to the basal pinacoid, and less marked parallel to the prism.

Although Celestine (Celestite) resembles baryte in its physical properties, having for example the same degree of hardness (3), it is less dense, its specific gravity being 3.9. Celestine (Celestite) is a less abundant mineral than baryte. It is, however, much more soluble, and occurs frequently in mineral waters. Applying the ordinary methods for identification to both minerals, Celestine (Celestite) and baryte seem to be the same, but the flame test can distinguish them. By scraping the dust of the crystals into a gas flame, the color of the flame will identify crystal. Barite produces a pale green flame while the flame is red if the mineral is Celestine (Celestite). The flame test works because the elements barium (Ba) and strontium (Sr) react with the flame and produce those different colors. Normally barite is not blue, but many specimens of blue barite are, again, misidentified as Celestine (Celestite).

Other physical properties of Celestine (Celestite):

Celestine (Celestite) identification:  Crystal system Orthorhombic

Celestine (Celestite) cleavage is perfect on one crystal face parallel to long axis (001), and nearly perfect on a second face (110).

Celestine (Celestite) has a hardness in the Mohs Scale of 3 - 3.5

Celestine (Celestite) streak: white

Celestine (Celestite) specific gravity 3.95 - 3.97

OCURRENCE OF CELESTINE (CELESTITE).

Celestine (Celestite) occurs in the Triassic rocks of Britain, especially in veins and geodes in the Keuper Marl in the neighborhood of Bristol. At Wickwar and Yate in Gloucestershire it is worked for industrial purposes. Colourless crystals, of great beauty, occur in association with calcite and native sulphur in the sulphur deposits of Sicily, as at Girgenti. Fine blue crystals are yielded by the copper mines of Herrengrund, in Hungary; a dark blue fibrous form is known from Jena; and small crystals occur in flint at Meudon near Paris. Very large tabular crystals are found in limestone on Strontian Island in Lake Erie; and a blue fibrous variety from near Frankstown.

Frequently Celestine (Celestite) occurs in geode formations. The largest known Celestine (Celestite) geode is located near the village of Put-in-Bay, Ohio on South Bass Island in Lake Erie. This Celestine (Celestite) 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 (Celestite) crystals as wide as18 inches across and weighing up to an estimated 300 lb.

Fine Celestine (Celestite) specimens can be obtained from many localities. Well-formed, pale-blue Celestine (Celestite) crystals occur in Spaia Dolina, Bohemia, Czech Republic; Tarnowitz, Poland; and Carrara, Tuscany, Italy. Blue and white Celestine (Celestite) crystals are found associated with bright yellow Sulfur crystals in the famous Sicilian sulfur mines of Cattolico and Agrigento, Italy. Fine Celestine (Celestite) crystals come from Yate in Gloucester, England, and enormous crystals, some in geodes, are found in Madagascar (Katsepe area).

In Canada, an orange Celestine (Celestite) has been found near Toronto at Orangeville. In Mexico, Celestine (Celestite) is found in Niaca, Chihuahua, and Matehuala, San Luis Potosi.

Some of the finest Celestine (Celestite) specimens come from the U.S. The first Celestine (Celestite) U.S. occurrence in Lockport, Niagara Co., New York, was discovered while digging the Erie Canal. The state of Ohio contains perhaps the greatest Celestine (Celestite) deposits, particularly South Bass Island in Lake Erie, where giant pale blue crystals were obtained. Also in Ohio are Lime City and Portage, both in Wood Co., and Clay Center, where the Celestine (Celestite) occurs with pale brown Calcite and Fluorite on limestone. Large, colorless crystals associated with Colemanite were found in geodes in the Death Valley area in Inyo Co., California., and pale blue crystals associated with Strontianite in the Calico Hills District in San Bernardino Co., California. Celestine (Celestite) also occurs in Maybee, Michigan; Adamsville, Lampasas Co., Texas and other localities.

Celestine (Celestite) is much used for the preparation of strontium hydrate, which is employed in refining beetroot sugar in Germany. Celestine (Celestite) is used also as a source of various salts of strontium such as the nitrate, which finds application in pyrotechnic for the production of red fire.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CELESTINE (CELESTITE) 

Celestine (Celestite) has several interesting metaphysical characteristics.

Celestine (Celestite) is used to aid mental activities and processes, integrating consciousness with instinct.

Celestine (Celestite) facilitates balance in a wide range of situations.

The mineral is also used to aid astral travel and dream recall.

Celestine (Celestite) aids bringing brightened hopes and cheerful disposition, including calm, and harmony.

It also helps with endeavors involving music and delicate arts such as detailed drawing and painting.

Celestine (Celestite) is use as a gift, in the spirit of love, light and blessing;

As a healing stone Celestine (Celestite) is a subtle enhancer of consciousness. It supplies the energy to co-create with celestial realms. Celestine (Celestite) provides openness and expansion of one's consciousness, lifting the boundaries of awareness to greater expansion, giving one the ability to articulate messages from the higher realms. The result is a more spontaneous understanding of higher spiritual aspirations. Celestine (Celestite) acts as a companion in endeavors of spiritual expansion. It is a bringer of peace and serenity to mental activity. It facilitates the opening of chakras between the Throat and the Crown.

Celestine (Celestite) blue ray stabilizes the opening and functioning of the Third Eye. This crystal helps develop and heightens telepathic abilities.

Despite the appearance of delicacy, Celestine (Celestite) provides grounding and rational assessment of lofty visions. It lets you speak authentically about spiritual matters. Celestine (Celestite) encourages you to maintain a positive attitude by reducing the tendency of self-destruction, promoting self-love in dark corners of one's being. Celestine (Celestite) is said to be good to help those who fear heights (air travel, mountain hiking) and to those with digestive disorders.

Selecting Celestine (Celestite) for Healing.

As Celestine (Celestite) often comes in nodules or geodes, try getting a "cave" of Celestine (Celestite). That is, a bowl-shaped (geode) specimen where the colour is strongly blue and the termination points are well formed and not broken. The bowl-shape captures energy, runs it into the crystal and purifies the energy before sending it back to the user. For small pieces, tape them onto a larger clear quartz crystal and aim the crystal into the 4, 5, 6, or 7th chakras. Smaller pieces can be taped directly to the 3rd Eye. If you are fortunate to have a completely spherical or egg-shaped Celestine (Celestite), you will be in for an amazing journey of consciousness and ascension.

Suggested Uses for Healing:

As Celestine (Celestite) is a very subtle energy crystal, using this crystal for several weeks or months is not unexpected. Results may vary, of course. For physical ailments or mental conditioning, try using a gem elixir. Gem elixirs usually provide a reliable, stable dosage of vibrational crystal energy. For fortifying telepathic and celestial attunement, tape a small transparent piece of Celestine (Celestite) at your Third Eye with surgical tape for use every night while sleeping. Wear a larger piece in a pouch between your Heart and Throat Chakra for day-time attuning. As Celestine (Celestite) is very brittle, it is not often used in jewelry pieces. To increase the benefits, get a large nodule, about 4" or larger in diameter and sleep with it next to your head or near your Crown Chakra. The experience of Celestine (Celestite) will be quite intensified and is cumulative over a period of time. The only trick to working with this crystal is the amount of exposure you get. It takes some time.