Strontianite, Bethel Level Minerva Mine #1, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois

Replacing calcium with strontium in the chemical formula of aragonite creates a rare carbonate mineral called strontianite. Interestingly, strontium is a fairly common element but is rare in mineral form with celestite being more common than strontianite. An important source of collector-quality specimens of strontianite occur in the fluorspar occurrences of the American Midwest; especially at the Minerva #1 Mine. Our specimen shows nice elongated, white crystals in radiating sprays on a small amount of matrix (of celestite?). At first glance I thought this was a brittle scolecite specimen from India but was surprised to feel how sturdy and robust the strontianite crystals are. The crystals are not delicate at all and it is easily handled. Nice response under exposure to UV light too. Ex John Schneider and Tom Collins collections. From Bethel Level Minerva Mine #1, Cave-in-Rock, Hardin County, Illinois. Dimensions: 4 cm x 5.5 cm x 6 cm