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Celsian

Formula:
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless
Hardness:6 - 6½
Name:After Anders Celsius (1701-1744), Swedish astronomer and naturalist.
Dimorph of:Paracelsian


Feldspar Group. Celsian-Hyalophane Series; Celsian-Orthoclase Series. The distinctly monoclinic (115.2°) dimorph of Paracelsian.

Classification of Celsian

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.06-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.FA.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
F : Tektosilicates without zeolitic H2O
A : Tektosilicates without additional non-tetrahedral anions
Dana 8th edition ID:76.1.1.4

76 : TECTOSILICATES Al-Si Framework
1 : Al-Si Framework with Al-Si frameworks
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.12.4

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
12 : Aluminosilicates of Sr, Ba and Zn
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Type Occurrence of Celsian

Type Locality:Jakobsberg Mine, Nordmark, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden
Year of Discovery:1895

Physical Properties of Celsian

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):6 - 6½

Crystallography of Celsian

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.62Å, b = 13.04Å, c = 14.4Å
β = 115.2°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.661 : 1 : 1.104
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,464.58 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Twinning:Simple twins in accordance with the
Manebach, Baveno, or Carlsbad laws.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Celsian

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.580 - 1.584 nβ = 1.585 - 1.587 nγ = 1.594 - 1.596
2V:Measured: 86° to 90°, Calculated: 62° to 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.014

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Celsian

Formula:
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
Essential elements:Al, Ba, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ba, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,Mg,Ca,Na,K,F

Relationship of Celsian to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Hyalophane (see here)
Forms a series with Orthoclase (see here)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.FA.IMA2007-049
NaAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.05Kaliophilite
K[AlSiO
 
4
]
9.FA.05Kalsilite
K[AlSiO
 
4
]
9.FA.05Nepheline
(Na,K)[AlSiO
 
4
]
9.FA.05Panunzite
(Na,K)[AlSiO
 
4
]
9.FA.05Trikalsilite
(Na,K)[AlSiO
 
4
]
9.FA.05Yoshiokaite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O
 
4
]
9.FA.05Megakalsilite
KAlSiO
 
4
9.FA.10Malinkoite
NaBSiO
 
4
9.FA.15Virgilite
LiAlSi
 
2
O
 
6
9.FA.25Lisitsynite
KBSi
 
2
O
 
6
9.FA.30Adularia
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Anorthoclase
(Na,K)[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Buddingtonite
(NH
 
4
)[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Hyalophane
(K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Microcline
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Orthoclase
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Sanidine
K[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Rubicline
(Rb,K)[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.30Kokchetavite
KAlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.30Monalbite
Na[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Albite
Na[AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Andesine
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Anorthite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Bytownite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Labradorite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Oligoclase
(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Reedmergnerite
Na[BSi
 
3
O
 
8
]
9.FA.35Lingunite
(Na,Ca)AlSi
 
3
O
 
8
9.FA.40Paracelsian
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.45Svyatoslavite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.50Slawsonite
(Sr,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.FA.55Lisetite
CaNa
 
2
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
16
9.FA.60Banalsite
BaNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
9.FA.60Stronalsite
SrNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
9.FA.65Danburite
Ca[BSiO
 
4
]
 
2
9.FA.65Maleevite
BaB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
9.FA.65Pekovite
SrB
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
16.12.1Stronalsite
SrNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
16.12.2Slawsonite
(Sr,Ca)[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.12.3Brewsterite
16.12.5Paracelsian
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.12.6Cymrite
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
(O,OH)
 
8
·H
 
2
O
16.12.7Edingtonite
Ba[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 4H
 
2
O
16.12.8Banalsite
BaNa
 
2
[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
 
2
16.12.9Harmotome
(Ba
 
0.5
,Ca
 
0.5
,K,Na)
 
5
[Al
 
5
Si
 
11
O
 
32
] ·12H
 
2
O
16.12.10Hyalophane
(K,Ba)[Al(Si,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.12.11Balipholite
BaLiMg
 
2
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
 
2
16.12.12Armenite
BaCa
 
2
Al
 
6
Si
 
9
O
 
30
·2H
 
2
O
16.12.13Wellsite
(Ba,Ca,K
 
2
)Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·6H
 
2
O
16.12.14Merlinoite
(K,Na)
 
5
(Ca,Ba)
 
2
Al
 
9
Si
 
23
O
 
64
·23H
 
2
O
16.12.15Anandite
(Ba,K)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
[(O,OH)
 
2
|(Si,Al,Fe)
 
4
O
 
10
]
16.12.16Fraipontite
(Zn,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
]
16.12.17Sauconite
Na
 
0.3
Zn
 
3
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
16.12.18Minehillite
(K,Na)
 
2-3
Ca
 
28
Zn
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
40
O
 
112
(OH)
 
16
16.12.19Hendricksite
K(Zn,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|AlSi
 
3
O
 
10
]
16.12.20Baileychlore
(Zn,Fe,Al,Mg)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
8

Other Names for Celsian

Synonyms:
Barium-Anorthite (of Sjögren)
Italian names:
Celsiana
Russian names:
Цельзиан
Varieties:
Germanate-celsian

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Celsian

Reference List:Dana, E.S. (1899) Dana's system of mineralogy, (6th edition), appendix I, 15.

Spencer, L.J. (1942) Barium feldspars, (celsian and paracelsian) from Wales. Mineralogical Magazine, 26, 231-245.

Deer, W.A., R.A. Howie, and J. Zussman (1963) Rock-forming Minerals, vol. 4, framework silicates, 166-178.

Gay, P. (1965) An X-ray powder method for the estimation of (K,Ba) feldspars. Mineralogical Magazine, 34, 204-213.

Gay, Peter & N.N. Roy (1965), The mineralogy of the potassium-barium feldspar series: III. Subsolid relationships: Mineralogical Magazine: 36: 914-932.

Griffen, D.T. and P.H. Ribbe (1976) Refinement of the crystal structure of celsian. American Mineralogist, 61, 414-418.

Fortey, N.J. and B. Beddoe-Stephens (1982) Barium silicates in stratabound Ba-Zn mineralization in the Scottish Dalradian. Mineralogical Magazine, 46, 63-72.

Internet Links for Celsian

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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  • Celsian details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Celsian

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Yancowinna Co.
    No reference listed
    • Tasmania
      • Rosebery district
        • Rosebery
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Revelstoke Mining Division
    Am Min 90: 1655-1660
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Olomouc Region
        • Javorník
          • Rýmařov
    Fojt, B. et al.: Paragenetická charakteristika ložisek Pb-Zn rud v širším okolí Horního Města u Rýmařova. Acta Mus. Moraviae, Sci. geol., 2007, 92, 3-57.
    Petr Paulis (2001): Die interessanten mineralogische Fundstellen in Mahren und Schlesien; Kuttna, Kutná Hora p69-73
    Italy
     
    • Lombardy
      • Varese Province
        • Ceresio Valley
    No reference listed
    • Piedmont
      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
        • Baveno
          • Oltrefiume
            • Mount Camoscio
    American Mineralogist, 84(5-6), 782-789
        • Mergozzo
          • Candoglia
    De Michele, V. (1974). Guida mineralogica d'Italia. Istituto Geografico De Agostini, Novara, 2 vol.
    • Sardinia
      • Carbonia-Iglesias Province
        • Fluminimaggiore
    • Stara, P. Rizzo, R., Tanca, G., Vinci A. (1994): Su Zurfuru. 1° parte. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4/1993, 215-236.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Niigata Prefecture
          • Itoigawa
    www.city.itoigawa.niigata.jp/fmm/detail-menu2/min109-corundum/corundum.html (in matrix of corundum-bearing river cobbles)
      • Kanto Region
        • Tochigi Prefecture
          • Kanuma
    No reference listed
        • Tokyo Prefecture
          • Nishi-Tama-gun
            • Okutama
    [MinRec 32:419]
      • Kinki Region
        • Kyoto Prefecture
          • Sohraku-gun
    Am Min 85:242-250
      • Tohoku Region
        • Iwate Prefecture
    Am Min 85:242-250
    • Shikoku Island
      • Kochi Prefecture
        • Kagami
    Handbook of Mineralogy, (c) 2001.
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Almaty Oblysy (Almati Oblast')
      • Tekeli
    Am Min 90:1163-1166
    Mexico
     
    • Baja California Norte
      • Tres Pozos
    Namibia
     
    • Otjozondjupa Region
    No reference listed
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Saha Republic (Sakha Republic; Yakutia)
    [World of Stones 12:49]
    Sweden
     
    • Medelpad
      • Sundsvall
    No reference listed
    • Södermanland
      • Nyköping
    • Värmland
      • Filipstad
    Nysten, P., Holtstam, D. and Jonsson, E. (1999) The Långban minerals. In Långban - The mines,their minerals, geology and explorers (D. Holtstam and J. Langhof, eds.), Swedish Museum of Natural History and Raster Förlag, Stockholm & Chr. Weise Verlag, Munich, pp. 89-183.
        • Nordmark
    GFF (1895) 17, 578
        • Pajsberg
    Kjell Gatedal
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Brig
        • Simplon pass area
          • Ganter valley
            • Wasen Alp
    Lapis 29(2), 37-40 (2004)
    UK
     
    • Scotland
      • Tayside (Perthshire)
        • Aberfeldy
    No reference listed
    • Wales
      • Gwynedd (Caernarvonshire)
        • Lleyn Peninsula
          • Llanfaelrhys
            • Nant-y-Gadwen
    Cotterell, T.F., 2006. Caryopilite and pyroxmangite from Nant Mine, Nant-y-Gadwen, Llanfaelrhys, Pen Llyn, Gwynedd, Wales UK Journal of Mines and Minerals, 27, 51-53.
            • Rhiw
    Spencer, L.J. (1942) Barium feldspars, (celsian and paracelsian) from Wales. Mineralogical Magazine, 26, 231-245; BMS Collection.
    USA
     
    • Alaska
      • Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Borough
        • Admiralty Island
      • Yukon-Koyukuk Borough
        • Alaska Range
    • Arizona
      • Yavapai Co.
    Galbraith, F.W. & Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 48.
    • California
      • Fresno Co.
        • Big Creek
    [MinRec 33:161]
        • Rush Creek
    [MinRec 33:163]
      • Mariposa Co.
        • Incline
    [MinRec 30:414]
      • Santa Cruz Co.
        • Santa Cruz
      • Tulare Co.
        • Chickencoop Canyon
    • Nevada
      • Elko Co.
        • Corral Creek District
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
        • Lee District
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Golconda District
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Lander Co.
        • Battle Mountain District
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Nye Co.
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Franklin
    Frondel, et al: Am. Min.:51:1388-1393 (1966); Frondel, C.: The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill - a checklist (1972); Dunn(1995):Pt4:509.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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