Strontianite (Strontium Carbonate)

The name strontianite comes from a famous location for the mineral, Strontian, Scotland. This ore is one of the few sources for the element strontium. Its uses include the refining of sugar and the production of fireworks.

Facts

Strontianite is considered to be a fairly rare mineral. Still, important locations occur in North America and Europe. This mineral has been reported from 6 counties in Ohio. Strontianite occurs as small white crystals or powdery masses in cavities or vugs in Silurian dolomites in the Findlay Arch mineral district. In northwestern Ohio strontianite is found in cavities of dolostones where the fibrous crystals commonly are associated with celestite.

Resources

Pough, Frederick H. A Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals; Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA; 1976.

Sorrell, Charles A. Rocks and Minerals; Golden Press, New York, NY; 1973.

Carlson, Ernest H., ed. Minerals of Ohio; Ohio Division of Geological Survey, Columbus, OH; Bulletin 69; 1991.

See Also

• Fibrous
• Silurian Period
• Till
• Translucent
• Minerals of Ohio
• Dolomite
• Dolostone
• Findlay Arch

Chemical Composition:	Strontium Carbonate (SrCO3)
Mineral Class:	Carbonates
Crystallization:	Orthorhombic
Crystal Habit:	Commonly in acicular or fibrous aggregates; may be in granular or powdery masses.
Specific Gravity:	3.8
Hardness:	3 1/2 - 4
Color:	White, pale yellow, colorless
Transparency:	Transparent to translucent
Luster:	Vitreous; greasy on cleaved surfaces
Streak:	White