Description

Celestite has an Orthorhombic crystal system and is in the mineral class of Sulfates. Its coloring is generally pale blue to deep and splotchy blue, but it can be white, colorless, a red-brown or orange. It is usually found in sedimentary rocks, mainly in cavities in sandstone or limestone. It can also be found associated with fluorite, calcite, gypsum, dolomite, galena or sphalerite, where its coloring is generally blue. The blue is attributed to the presence of minute amounts of gold. In varieties from China, a deep, persistent blue is achieved from irradiation.

White, elongated crystals had been abundant in Sicilian sulfer mines, and large, white blades are found in England at Yate, Gloucestershire. There are many places in the US that it can be found in its blue color, but a colorless variety is found in the Death Valley area, and an orange variety occurs near Colorado Springs. Right now, some of the best is coming from the Bombetoka Bay area in Madagascar.