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The area around Yate, north of Bristol in South Gloucestershire, was once one of the world's biggest producers of strontium, from Celestine (strontium sulphate) deposits located just beneath the soil surface. The strontium was used in the processing of sugar beet as well as the red colour in fireworks. Mining was undertaken by shallow quarrying but most of this area has now been developed for housing and little trace remains. This small cabinet specimen shows the tabular form of the crystals that bear a passing resemblance to Baryte, but with subtle differences. Remarkably, given the volume of Celestine mined, good crystals were rare, and this specimen is a great example.
103 x 72 x 30 mm