Strontium carbonate named after Strontian in Scotland where it was first discovered. Source of strontium. Color: White, yellowish, greenish, pinkish. Luster: Vitreous to resinous. Streak: White. Cleavage: Good in two directions. Hardness: 3.5. Transparency: Transparent to translucent. Crystal system: Orthorhombic. Chemical formula: SrCO₃. Specific gravity: 3.72. Formation: Forms in low-temperature hydrothermal veins in limestone and as concretions in marl and clay. Common geological settings: Scotland, Germany, Austria, USA; found in low-temperature veins and sedimentary rocks. Common look-alikes and related entries: Aragonite, Cerussite, Witherite.
These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
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GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:37:02.917546+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
IMA–CNMNC List of Mineral Names — International Mineralogical Association. Official mineral-name, nomenclature, and classification records.
Mineral ID Key — Mineralogical Society of America. Physical-property identification methods, repeat-testing guidance, and limitations.
Strontium carbonate named after Strontian in Scotland where it was first discovered. Source of strontium.
How can you identify Strontianite?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records colour: White, yellowish, greenish, pinkish; lustre: Vitreous to resinous; streak: White; Mohs hardness: 3.5; cleavage: Good in two directions; crystal system: Orthorhombic; transparency: Transparent to translucent. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Strontianite form?
Forms in low-temperature hydrothermal veins in limestone and as concretions in marl and clay.
Where is Strontianite commonly found?
Scotland, Germany, Austria, USA; found in low-temperature veins and sedimentary rocks.
What is Strontianite commonly confused with?
Strontianite may be confused with Aragonite, Cerussite, Witherite. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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