Celestine with Calcite

Unknown Owner

Classic specimen from Ohio with large bladed crystals of Celestine standing straight up from matrix and measuring to 6.5 cm are in size, these hosting pale yellow crystals of calcite. From the mid 1970s, this is in good condition for one of these.The White Rock Quarry, located in Clay Center, Ottawa County, Ohio, is a well-known mineral locality situated within the Silurian-aged carbonate rocks of the Findlay Arch. Geologically, the quarry excavates the Lockport Dolomite, which formed in a shallow, tropical marine environment. The site is famous among regional collectors for its vugs containing exceptional crystals of fluorite, often in shades of brown or blue, as well as celestine, calcite, and occasional pyrite. These minerals were deposited by low-temperature hydrothermal fluids moving through the porous dolomitic host rock. Historically, the quarry began operations in the late 1800s or early 1900s, primarily to produce lime and crushed stone for construction and agricultural use. It was operated for many years by the Kelly Island Lime and Transport Company and later by other industrial firms. While it has functioned as a major industrial aggregate source for over a century, its reputation was cemented in the mid-20th century by the discovery of world-class celestine and fluorite pockets. Active quarrying continues today, though access for mineral collecting is strictly limited.