celestite

[ sel-uh-stahyt ]

noun

1. a white to pale-blue mineral, strontium sulfate, SrSO 4 , occurring in tabular crystals, the principal ore of strontium.

celestite

/ ˈsɛlɪˌstaɪt; ˈsɛlɪstɪn; -ˌstaɪn /

noun

1. a white, red, or blue mineral consisting of strontium sulphate in orthorhombic crystalline form: a source of strontium compounds. Formula: SrSO 4

Word History and Origins

Origin of celestite¹

1850–55; celest ( ine ) celestite (< German Zölestin < Latin coelest ( is ), variant of caelestis celestial + German -in -in ² ) + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of celestite¹

C19: from German Zölestin, from Latin caelestis celestial (referring to the blue colour) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Both minerals form beautiful colorless crystals, though celestite is sometimes colored a faint blue.

From Project Gutenberg