The Sky Blue Celestite Crystal

Getting it’s name from the Latin ‘caelestis’, meaning “heavenly”; an allusion to its color, celestite or celstine is a very popular mineral because of its typical sky blue or ‘celestial’ color. Often forming beautiful transparent light to medium-blue tabular crystals, celestite can be colorless, white, light red, green, blue, or brown. It is often found in colorful combinations with minerals such as yellow sulphur. Although celestite can look similar to barite, it is actually strontium sulphate, and has long been used as a source of strontium for fireworks, glazes and metal alloys.


It forms in sedimentary rock such as limestones, dolomites, and sandstones. It can also be derived directly from sea water and commonly occurs in evaporate deposits as a minor constituent; occasionally it forms in hydrothermal deposits. The crystals take a wide variety of forms but are typically tablet, prism, or plate shaped. It can also form crusts, nodules, grains and masses. Celestite may also be found in the cavities of fossils. It is known to form, for example, in fossilized ammonites. It can be found in Madagascar, Mexico, Italy, Canada, England, and the US; lesser known specimens have been found in England, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany.

 
Legend & Traditional Properties
In ancient Greece it was believed that the stone only worked if it had been given to its owner by a friend or relative. It would then protect the body from all kinds of evil. The ancient Romans were also familiar with the healing properties of celestite, its calming, fortifying influence on the mind and its ability to drive evil out of a person. The stone encourages the healing of wounds and is said to be effective in alleviating pain caused by tension, anxiety and in solving problems with insomnia. It is connected to both Capricorn and Gemini star signs.


Research from various crystal-mineral-rock websites & books.

Igneous Rock

In its most natural state a natural volcanic glass, Obsidian forms when lava solidifies so quickly those mineral crystals do not have time to grow. The name Obsidian simply refers to the glassy texture and technically obsidian can have any chemical composition. However, most obsidian is similar in composition to Rhyolite, and is commonly found on the outer edges of Rhyolite domes and flows. Like rhyolite, obsidian can show flow-banding.


It is also found along the rapidly cooled edges of dykes and sills. Obsidian is typically jet-black, although with the presence of hematite (iron oxide) the color change can vary from red to brown varieties; with the inclusion of tiny gas bubbles it can create a golden sheen. The appearance of ‘white snowflakes’ in obsidian are caused by spherulites, spherical aggregates of needle-like crystals.

In the Stone Age obsidian was used to make weapons and blades. It has been used in magic rituals since time immemorial and in fortune telling it was used as a mirror. The stone helps alleviate pain, reduce tension and release energy. Some people wear it to improve circulation and it is said it can be used to treat trauma, shock and anxiety attacks. It is the Star Sign associated with Scorpio and Sagittarius.

To care for obsidian it must be discharged once a month under warm water and then recharged in the sun or among rock crystals. It is said to also bring clarity, deflecting negativity, protection, and healing powers to those who use or wear the stone.
*Re-printed from various mineral gemstone books and websites.

Aegerine - A Cool Find

A new find (for me at least) at Tucson is a stone called Aegerine from Zomba Mountains of Malawi; collected from cracks and crevices in the bare granite. It is said that the locals dig it out with primitive tools, sometimes they have to go down a bare rock with rope of 6-10 meters to get to some of the pockets of Aegerine.

It is a favorite among mineral collectors with its dark colorations, dark green to almost black with clear or opaque spots within the stone. It forms long needlelike crystals which often times have a pyramidal finish to the edges, with a vitreous luster.


Aegerine is said to be a high energy stone, often used in energizing a person. It protects against negative energy, and is helpful for broken relationships, eliminating group pressure, and strengthening self-acceptance. Wearing the stone can bring about self-esteem, self-sufficiency, and helps in matters of the heart.

Mystical and spiritual healing lore states that Aegerine is excellent for the immune system, making it great for general healing and helping the body heal itself. It’s corresponding Astrological sign is Pisces.