Celestite

Celestite, also known as strontium sulfate (SrSO4), is a mineral with a variety of applications and advantages. It is a significant source of the chemical element strontium, which is used to make a variety of strontium compounds and to refine strontium metal. Strontium in the celestite serves as an opacifier and colorant and is utilized as a raw ingredient in the manufacture of glass and ceramics. Celestite is also used in pyrotechnics because it can burn with a strong red flame, which is suitable for spectacular fireworks effects. Finally, due to its strontium concentration, celestite is occasionally added to soil in agriculture to promote crop development and output, and so on. This mineral is provided by Celestine and Celestite Manufacturers in several forms, including powder, lump, and concentrated, making it easier to use.

Iran Celestine Co. is a reliable firm to work with when buying Iran Celestine. Several Iran celestite mines, including Semnan, Behbahan, Shahrood, and Neyshabur, are used by this reputable celestite powder manufacturer to produce a high-quality material that passes all international standards. Iran Celestine Co. offers celestite in a wide range of forms, including lumps, concentrates, granules, and powders. This organization also provides various grades of celestite that find application in particular sectors and are based on varied purity levels. If you want to purchase this item in powder form, keep in mind that you must be careful when choosing particle sizes for the product. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more details about Iran Celestine Co. and our goods. You can also read about them by paying a visit to About Us.

What is Celestite?

The mineral Celestite, commonly known as celestine, is a sulfate-bearing mineral distinguished by its orthorhombic crystal structure and strontium sulfate chemical makeup (SrSO4). It is a typical supplementary mineral found in sedimentary environments, particularly in carbonate rocks like dolomite and limestone. It can also be found in hydrothermal veins and evaporite deposits as a secondary mineral. Geologists are interested in celestite as a substantial source of strontium, which is utilized in many industrial applications, including pyrotechnics, ceramics, and sugar refining. Celestite has also been used as a decorative stone and is a sought-after mineral by collectors. It is valued for its pale blue hue and transparency.

What Differentiates Celestine from Celestite?

The strontium sulfate mineral group includes the mineral types celestine and celestite. Celestine and celestite differ primarily in their crystal structures. Celestine has a monoclinic crystal structure and occurs as colorless, white, gray, yellow, blue, or green elongated crystal formations. It is a relatively rare mineral found in sedimentary rocks, such as evaporites and limestone. Conversely, celestite has an orthorhombic crystal structure and occurs as colorless, white, or blue short, stubby crystals. It is more commonly found than celestine and is typically associated with sedimentary rocks, such as gypsum and anhydrite.

All in all, both celestine and celestite have the same chemical composition (SrSO4) and are used for the same purposes, including the production of strontium compounds and as a source of strontium for the refining of strontium metal.

What is Strontium Sulfate?

Strontium and sulfate ions combine to form the strontium sulfate (SrSO4) chemical compound. It is an inorganic salt that frequently occurs as a terrigenous mineral in sedimentary rocks like limestone. Insoluble in water but readily soluble in diluted acids, strontium sulfate is a white or grayish-white powder. It is a stable chemical that does not quickly decompose at ordinary pressures and temperatures.

Strontium sulfate is usually utilized in the industry as a source of strontium, which is needed for manufacturing flares and fireworks as well as refining sugar from sugar beets. In addition, it serves as a color former in enamels, glass, and ceramics. It is also worth mentioning that strontium sulfate is used as a raw material to make strontium carbonate and strontium nitrate, as well as strontium compounds for medicinal and dental applications.

Occurrence and Distribution of Celestine

Celestite can be detected in evaporite deposits, hot springs, and sedimentary rocks like limestone. Iran, Spain, Italy, Germany, England, and the United States are just a few nations where the mineral may be found. Iran, where the mineral occurs naturally and has long been mined, is a location for some of the most significant celestite resources. The most notable celestine mines that Iran Celestine Co. contributes to the distribution of their products are Semnan Celestite Mines, Dehloran Celestite Mine, Behbahan Celestite Mine, Shahrood Celestite Mine, Neyshabur Celestite Mine, and Varamin Celestite Mine.

Celestine can be categorized into three main types based on its composition and occurrence:

• Primary Celestine:

This type of celestine is formed as a primary mineral in sedimentary rocks, typically in evaporite deposits. It is associated with minerals such as halite, gypsum, and anhydrite.

• Secondary Celestine:

This celestine is created when primary minerals, including sulfates, are chemically altered. Sedimentary rocks frequently include secondary celestine as replacements or as veins.

• Hydrothermal Celestine:

Celestine generated through hydrothermal processes is known as hydrothermal celestine, and it is frequently discovered with sulfide minerals like galena and sphalerite. Barite-celestine, also known as hydrothermal celestine, is commonly found in hydrothermal veins.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Celestite

Celestite is transparent to translucent with a vitreous to pearly sheen and an orthorhombic crystal structure. It could be colorless, white, gray, blue, yellow, or green with a white streak, among other hues. Celestite exhibits a conchoidal fracture and excellent cleavage in two directions, forming prismatic crystals. It is soluble in weak acids but insoluble in water. Celestite is a well-liked mineral among mineral collectors and a sought-after stone for decorative reasons because of these qualities.

Different Grades of Celestite

Celestite’s physical properties, such as its crystal structure, color, and clarity, can be used to evaluate its quality. When acquiring celestite, factors like these are crucial to take into account because they will affect its worth and price. As such, all the producers, like celestine powder manufacturers, celestite concentrate manufacturers, and celestine lump manufacturers, provide their products under specific grades that refer to their physical and chemical properties, each suitable for a particular application. The grading helps customers to find their intended product easily and employ it in their desired industry. It is vital to note that it would be great to classify celestite into three grades by their usage, such as:

The Industrial Grade

Since the industrial grade of celestite has a lower purity level and is the most prevalent product type, it is suited for industrial uses. This grade is well-liked in the building, glass manufacturing, and ceramics industries because of its lower price and greater crystal size. Strontium compounds and other industrial uses are also made with it. Celestite used in industrial settings often has a light blue hue. Impurities like barite, calcite, and other minerals may reduce their purity, but this does not affect their capacity to perform in these fields. In other words, contaminants in this grade enable a wider range of application options and lower costs for extensive industrial use.

The Chemical Grade

This grade of celestite is superior to industrial-grade celestite and is renowned for having better purity levels. The chemical industry uses this kind of celestine as a source of strontium, a chemical used to make fireworks, flares, and pyrotechnics. Along with other chemical reactions, it is essential for synthesizing strontium compounds. The hue of chemical-grade celestite is typically pale blue or white and has better clarity than industrial-grade. This grade’s higher purity qualifies it for use in the manufacture of strontium compounds, which need a higher purity to provide the appropriate results. Our intended grade often undergoes processing to remove impurities, increasing the cost for clients but providing a more consistent and dependable source of strontium for chemical applications.

The Pharmaceutical Grade

The highest quality celestine available for usage in the pharmaceutical and medical sectors is the pharmaceutical grade. The grade allows manufacturers to produce medications containing strontium because of its high purity levels and reliable crystal structure. The hue of pharmaceutical-grade celestite is often a light blue; it has much better clarity than lower grades. This grade’s improved purity makes it perfect for manufacturing strontium-based medicines and dietary supplements, which need a high level of purity to ensure their efficacy and security. The grade, which undergoes a thorough purification procedure to ensure consistent quality, is the most expensive type of celestine. It is an essential ingredient in creating some medical products containing strontium.

Celestite Production Process

The celestite production process, also known as celestite purification, involves several steps to transform the raw celestite ore into the desired product. It starts with the extraction of celestite ore from mines or through chemical synthesis. The natural celestite ore is then subjected to physical and chemical refining procedures to remove impurities, followed by drying. In the case of synthetic celestite, strontium salts, and sulfuric acid are combined to create strontium sulfate, which is purified and crystallized to achieve a high level of purity. Lastly, the purified strontium sulfate is dried to create synthetic celestite. It’s important to note that while natural celestite production is less expensive, it is less reliable and less adaptable compared to synthetic celestite production, which offers more consistent quality and purity levels.

In the following, we will discuss the production of synthetic and natural celestine and the crucial stages that concentrated, lump, and granular celestite manufacturers perform to reach the final product. But first, it is vital to find out more about the various sources of celestite.

An Overview of Celestite’s Sources

Celestite can be found in nature as a natural mineral or be synthesized or produced artificially. Here’s a comparison of the differences between these three types of celestite:

• Natural celestite:

Found in the crust of the earth, natural celestite is a mineral created by geological processes. It has a striking blue tint and is made of strontium sulfate. Natural celestite has many functions, including providing strontium for technological and industrial applications and serving as an attractive mineral.

• Synthetic celestite:

In a lab or other industrial setting, chemical reactions are used to create synthetic celestite. Although it has the same chemical makeup as celestite found in nature, its qualities and characteristics may vary. When high-purity strontium sulfate is necessary, including when making flares and fireworks, synthetic celestite is frequently utilized as a replacement for natural celestite.

• Artificial celestite:

It is a material made to resemble the features and look of natural celestite, but it is not a mineral and does not share its chemical makeup. Artificial celestite is frequently created from materials like ceramics or plastic for ornamental purposes.

Natural Celestite Purification Processes

The celestite purification process is a general name for various methods employed to reduce impurities of celestite ore that lead to obtaining the desired product. To eliminate contaminants, numerous chemical procedures are used to purify the celestite, also known as strontium sulfate. One method is dissolution, where the mineral is dissolved in a solvent, such as an acid, to form a solution containing strontium ions. The strontium sulfate can then be concentrated by evaporating the purified solution, which can then be cooled to create a crystalline solid. Another method is ion exchange, which uses an ion exchange resin to selectively remove contaminants from the celestite solution. Strontium ions are loaded onto the resin, and impurities are swapped out for those ions. Then, the resin can be eluted with the purified solution.

Moreover, Reflux crystallization is another technique for purifying this mineral. The strontium sulfate is concentrated by evaporating the purified solution, which is then cooled to produce a crystalline solid. Impurities will not crystallize with the strontium sulfate and can be filtered out.

Synthetic Celestite Production Process

Strontium sulfate, sometimes referred to as synthetic celestite, is produced by a sequence of chemical processes leading to strontium sulfate’s crystallization. A description of the steps involved in creating synthetic celestite is provided below:

·       Preparation of initial materials:

Strontium carbonate (SrCO3) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) are commonly the starting components for synthesizing celestite. To create a solution, sulfuric acid, and strontium carbonate are weighed and mixed. Carbon dioxide and strontium sulfate are produced when sulfuric acid and strontium carbonate react:

SrCO3 + H2SO4 -> SrSO4 + CO2 + H2O

· Crystallization:

After cooling the solution to a temperature that encourages the formation of celestite crystals, the crystals begin to form. To avoid the production of massive, undesired crystal forms, cooling is usually done slowly. The mixture is agitated while it cools in to promote the formation of celestite crystals. The stirring procedure aids in regulating the celestite crystals’ growth in size and shape.

· Purification:

After being taken out of the solution, the celestite crystals are cleaned to eliminate contaminants. Filtration, decantation, and centrifugation are a few ways this procedure can be carried out. After drying, the cleaned celestite crystals can be utilized as a strontium source or as a starting point for creating other strontium compounds.

· Optional post-processing:

Depending on the intended purpose, the synthetic celestite crystals may go through additional processing to achieve a certain particle size, such as crushing, grinding, and sieving. Celestite could be crushed into a fine powder, for instance, if it’s going to be used in ceramics. Celestite can be broken into tiny pieces if used in fireworks to enhance the surface area.

It is crucial to select the suitable Celestite Manufacturer since the aforementioned process, especially the last stage, may affect the Celestine properties that lead to various mineral applications. In this case, it is worth mentioning that there are different celestite producers based on the outcome of the factory; for instance:

Celestite Lump Manufacturer:

A celestine lump manufacturer produces large pieces of celestite or celestine in its raw, uncut form. These lumps are typically used as a raw material in the production of strontium compounds and as a refining agent for strontium metal.

Celestite Powder Manufacturer:

A celestine powder manufacturer produces a fine powder form of celestite. This form of the mineral is used in industrial applications, including the production of ceramics, glass, and fireworks.

Celestite Concentrate Manufacturer:

A celestine concentrate manufacturer produces a high-purity form of celestite, which is used in making various strontium compounds and as a refining agent for strontium metal.

Celestite Applications

Celestite, commonly known as celestine, is a strontium sulfate mineral with various uses because of its unique characteristics and adaptability. Because of its ability to manufacture strontium compounds with specialized purposes and advantages, this mineral is employed in a variety of sectors, including the industrial, chemical, and medicinal ones. Celestite’s source and purity are critical factors in defining its usage; while lower-purity celestite is suitable for industrial and chemical uses, higher-purity celestite is preferable for medicinal use. The value and possible uses of the celestite deposit depend on its location and quality. Regarding the description in the other section of this text, it would be beneficial to describe celestite usage by its grades. Below, you can discover more about it.

Industrial-Grade Usage

Producing strontium compounds like strontium carbonate and strontium nitrate requires using industrial-grade celestite as a raw material. These substances are utilized in signals, flares, and fireworks. Celestite of industrial grade is used to make strontium compounds, which are used in flares and pyrotechnics as oxidants and red colorants, respectively. Additionally, the manufacture of red and green pyrotechnics uses strontium nitrate.

Chemical-Grade Usage

Chemical-grade celestite is used as a strontium source for various applications of strontium compounds. Strontium chromate, strontium oxide, strontium carbonate, and strontium nitrate are some of these substances. These substances are employed for multiple things, such as flame retardants, ceramic glazes, catalysts, and pigments. Strontium carbonate functions as a neutralizer in manufacturing glass and ceramics, whereas strontium chromate is utilized as a yellow pigment in the paint industry.

Pharmaceutical-Grade Usage

Pharmaceutical-grade celestite produces strontium ranelate, a medication used to treat osteoporosis. Strontium ranelate works by increasing the density of bones and reducing the risk of fractures. It is commonly prescribed to postmenopausal women who have osteoporosis. It is also employed in other parts of the pharmaceutical industry, as it is one of the purest grades of celestite available in the market.

About Iran Celestine CO.’s Celestite

Iran Celestine Co. is a leading manufacturer of inorganic materials focusing on celestite production from its mines in Ahvaz, Semnan, and Ilam provinces. With over 40 years of experience in extraction and manufacturing, the company has an annual capacity of more than 100,000 tons and offers celestite with varying purity levels, including 80%, 85%, and over 90%. The company has established large warehouses in Semnan, Ilam, Kohkiloye, and Ahvaz to store its products and has a robust logistics system for transportation. The Bandar Abbas warehouse is built in a 30,000 square meters area and is fully equipped with modern machines and devices. In this warehouse, an equipped workshop for the production of Celestine concentrate has been established, which has the capability to produce 50,000 tons of celestite concentrate annually. It is vital to note that using these advanced tools and a powerful logistics system turned out to be a new revolution in Celestine’s product. It has enabled Iran Celestine Co. to produce over 50,000 tons per year and export Celestine concentrates to China for the first time.

The company also operates a factory that produces various strontium sulfate powders, such as 80%, 85%, and +90%. , and has established a facility in Karaj to produce strontium carbonate and silicate. It means every customer can easily rely on Iran Celestine Co. as a powerful strontium sulphate supplier that is well connected to various celestine mines in Iran, like the Neyshabur celestine mine and the Varamin celestine mine. It makes this reputable strontium sulphate manufacturer able to present Iran Clestite in various grades and forms for every customer worldwide. This granular celestine manufacturer’s robust packing and logistics unit ensure the product’s safety for every customer. For more information about the company, its products, and the pricing, please get in touch with our experts.

Conclusion

Celestite, sometimes referred to as strontium sulfate, is a mineral with several uses and advantages. The manufacturing of strontium compounds, refinement of strontium metal, opacification and coloring of glass and ceramics, pyrotechnics, and agriculture all utilize this significant supply of strontium. Inorganic salt strontium sulfate is frequently found in sedimentary rocks and is used in pyrotechnics, sugar refining, enamels, glass, and ceramics, as well as for medical and dental purposes. Celestite is a common mineral mined in several areas worldwide, including Iran, such as the Semnan celestine mines, Dehloran celestine mine, Behbahan celestine mine, and Shahrood celestine mine. The substance can be classified into three types based on its composition and occurrence. It is also categorized into different grades based on their form, like granular, lump, and powder.