Celestine

Unknown Owner

Although the Hammam-Zriba mine is famous for a limited number of well crystallised mineral species, it is best known for its Celestine, strontian sulphate. The mine is near the village of Zriba in the Zaghouan Governorate of Tunisia and in this rather beautiful example forms a radiating fan of quite delicate thin blades of up to 6.2 cm long, while averaging around 5 cm. The Celestine spray emanates from a single point at the base and transgresses from a subtle pale blue through to milky white at the terminations. Some of the terminations are broken, but the vast majority are perfect and totally detract from the few damaged patches. The Celestine has a glassy lustre making for a lovely miniature.\n