Celestine with Quartz

specimen number:
2013588

location:
Lehigh Quarry, Mitchell, Indiana, USA

description:
Attractive mostly gemmy crystals of blocky Celestine measuring to 2.5 cm are in size in an open pocket lined with crystallized quartz. Neat for this locality, this is in good condition.

The Lehigh Quarry, located in Mitchell, Lawrence County, Indiana, is a prominent industrial site recognized by mineralogists for its distinctive celestine specimens. Geologically, the quarry excavates Mississippian-aged carbonate rocks, specifically the Salem Limestone and the St. Louis Limestone, which represent ancient shallow marine environments. The celestine (strontium sulfate) occurs within geodes and solution cavities, often forming as elongated, prismatic crystals with a characteristic pale blue to colorless appearance, sometimes accompanied by calcite, quartz, and gypsum. Historically, the site has been operated for over a century to provide high-calcium limestone for the production of portland cement, with the Lehigh Portland Cement Company (now Lehigh Hanson) establishing major operations in the early 1900s. While the quarry remains a massive, active producer of raw materials for the construction industry today, it gained specific fame among collectors in the mid to late 20th century for the unique "needle-like" habit of its celestine crystals found in localized pockets. Because it is an active industrial operation with strict safety protocols, specimen recovery is generally limited to authorized geological studies and coordinated club visits, preserving its status as a classic but restricted Indiana mineral locality.

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