Dresserite, Strontianite Locality: Francon quarry, Montréal, Québec, Canada (Locality at mindat.org) Size: miniature, 3.2 x 2.5 x 1.7 cm Dresserite, Strontianit — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Strontianite
Strontium carbonate — one of the few strontium minerals and a source of strontium for fireworks' red.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Strontianite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the carbonate class, with the chemical formula Sr(CO₃).
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pnma). It is a member of the Aragonite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5; specific gravity 3.76; typically colorless or white or gray or yellow or green; white streak; Vitreous, resinous on breaks luster; refractive index 1.617; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Str, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1791.
An uncommon low-temperature hydrothermal mineral formed in veins in limestone, marl, and chalk; in geodes and concretions; rarely occurs in hydrothermal metallic veins; common in carbonatites.
It is found associated with Barite, calcite, celestine, harmotome, sulfur.
The name refers to Strontian, Scotland, source of the first specimens.
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