Can Celestite Go In Water? (ANSWERED)

No, celestite should not be put in water for extended periods of time.

In the article that follows, you’ll learn more about celestite, as well as why it is not a material that handles water baths well.

Can Celestite Go In Water? (EXPLAINED)

Celestite is a fairly fragile mineral in the scheme of things, rating only a 3 to 3.5 on the Mohs Hardness scale.

This means that the material is softer than many materials you may see people soaking (like agates, quartz varieties, and more).

In general, minerals and crystals that are less than 5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale should not be put in water.

Not only should celestite not be immersed in water but too much strong sunlight can do damage.

What Kind Of Damage Can Water Do?

People don’t realize how bad water can be for rocks, minerals, crystals, and gems.

This is especially the case if the material was found by the owner….in water.

Water can have multiple negative impacts upon even the strongest and most durable of stones.

At the molecular level, water encourages the widening of fissures in the surface of the material.

This may not lead to cleaving of the material, but it can cause light to bounce off the surface of the stone in a less attractive way.

This can leave the stone looking dull or even change the color of the stone, and no amount of cleaning with a cloth can return the stone to its previous luster.

Water will strip polish off of a shiny stone, and it can also encourage yellowing or rusting of materials containing certain metals.

In some instances, materials are actually water soluble, which is yet another reason why people should be really really sure of what their material is before they do things with it.

The Care and Keeping of Celestite

Keep in mind that celestite is fragile and can be damaged by harder stones and harsh chemicals.

If you want to clean it, use just a light misting of water and an immediate drying with a soft cloth.

You can clean your celestite without water by burying it in rice or salt for a time.

Strong sunlight can cause the already light colors to fade as can high heat conditions.

Use a microfiber towel and very soft brush to clean celestite and take care not to scratch it.

Do not use steam, ultrasonic cleaners or any harsh chemicals on celestite.

People who believe in crystal healing will recommend cleansing celestite by exposing it to moonlight, but this will only cleanse the crystal in a metaphysical sense.

What is Celestite Made Out Of?

The chemical makeup of celestite is SrSO_4.

This makes it a strontium sulfate.

Variants might have some barium included, which would then make the chemical makeup (Sr,Ba)SO_4.

As the name suggests, celestite is often sky blue in color.

However, it can be found in pale variants of orange, brown, yellow and gray.

Some crystals may be multicolored.

Some celestites look like a clear midday sky, some look more like the sky at sunset.

The stone can be transparent to translucent with an orthorhombic crystal system.

It has a vitreous luster, though cleavage surfaces may have a more pearly luster.

The History of Celestite

The name “celestite” is from the Latin word “caelum” for “sky”, due to the crystal’s pale blue color.

It started being called this by German geologist Abraham Werner in 1798, six years after the formal description of the element strontium.

Celestite generally formed in sedimentary rocks such as limestone, thought it sometimes formed in the hydrothermal veins among igneous rock.

Sicilian legend holds that celestites fell to earth from the stars.

In Ancient Greece and Rome, celestite amulets were worn as protection charms.

Where to Find Celestite?

Celestite is a sedimentary rock that can often be found among other sedimentary rocks such as limestone.

Rarely will it be found in ore veins.

Many celestite crystals and geodes containing celestite can be found in Northwestern Madagascar.

It can also be found in sulfur deposits in Italy, Spain and Poland. In North America, celestite can be found in quarries in Ohio and Ontario.

Put-in-Bay, Ohio is home to the Crystal Cave, which itself is more of a gigantic geode.

The walls of the Crystal Cave are simply lined in pale blue celestite.

However, you may be discouraged from taking anything but pictures at this tourist attraction.

Celestite gemstones from the Lake Eerie region and Madagascar will often be of the highest quality.

What is Celestite Used For?

A lot of the celestite found in Ohio is used to make fireworks.

Though the gem itself is commonly a light blue color, fireworks made with it tend to be deep red due to the ignition of strontium salts.

This makes it a component of emergency flares as well.

Some types of glass also use celestite in their build up.

Ceramics, rubber and paint may also be made with celestite.

Battery lead will often have some celestite mixed in.

Celestite is often used in refining sugar beet.

This fragile stone with perfect cleavage is sometimes used in jewelry, but care must be taken to keep it from being damaged.

Rarely will cut stones of celestite exceed ten carats.

The Symbolism of Celestite

The coloring of celestite brings to mind a calm, blue sky with maybe a few wispy white clouds.

Some people meditate over celestite to calm feelings of anger, fear, anxiety and even tension headaches.

Some believe it gives the handler access to a “Third Eye”, leading to introspection, creativity, clear thinking and even a bit of clairvoyance.

It is believed that sleeping with a bit of celestite nearby or tucked under the pillow will lead to better dream recall.

It is also believed to be a conduit in communicating with angels.

It is a crystal is used to promote harmony and a sense of calm.

Libras might feel a connection to celestite due to a connection to the heart chakra and its ability to balance emotion.

Geminis might feel a connection to celestite due to a connection to the throat chakra leading to ease in communication.

Conclusion

Celestite is a stone associated with the sky but not really of the water.

It is a delicate stone that must be handled gently and given minimal exposure to both moisture and heat.

Though often pale blue in color, celestite can go out with a great bang and flash of red if heated up enough.

Whether by itself or as part of a larger geode, celestite is a welcome addition to any rockhound’s collection.