1Selecting, designating and adopting celestine as the official
2State mineral of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

3The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

4(1) Celestine was first discovered in Bellwood, near
5Frankstown, Blair County, Pennsylvania, in 1791 by Andreas
6Gotthelf Schutz, a visiting naturalist from Freiberg,
7Germany. In 1797, Martin Klaproth, the leading chemist in
8Germany of his time, determined the chemical composition of
9celestine as strontium sulfate. Abraham Gottlob Werner, a
10founding father of the sciences of mineralogy and physical
11geology, offered the name and physical description in 1798.
12The first crystal structure of celestine was published in
131925 by R. W. James and W. A. Wood.

14(2) Celestine derives its name from Latin caelestis,
15meaning "heavenly," in allusion to the beautiful sky-blue
16color of the first specimen from this Commonwealth. Celestine
17grows as large, clear crystals that can be faceted into gems.

1With the same brilliance as topaz, celestine crystals are
2lovely gemstones.

3(3) Celestine has been found in Bellwood, Blair County;
4East Salem, Juniata County; Lime Bluff, Lycoming County;
5Meckley's Quarry, Northumberland County; Allenport,
6Huntingdon County; and Faylors Middle Creek Quarry, Mifflin
7County.

8(4) Celestine is a major ore for strontium, whose
9compounds are responsible for the bright red flames in
10fireworks and road flares. Strontium salts also were employed
11for refining beet sugar and, during the long period when
12cathode-ray tubes dominated television technology, strontium
13was added to the glass to absorb X-rays for the protection of
14the viewer.

15(5) Designating celestine as our State mineral will
16remind the residents of Pennsylvania that our Commonwealth
17boasts a rich natural history that is marked by a mineralogy
18of great beauty and diversity. This act will provide a
19positive experience to countless school children whose
20interest in Pennsylvania history and geology will be piqued.

21The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
22hereby enacts as follows:

23Section 1. Official State mineral.

24Celestine, a mineral appearing as sky-blue or white
25orthorhombic crystals or in fibrous masses, is hereby selected,
26designated and adopted as the official State mineral of the
27Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

28Section 2. Effective date.

29This act shall take effect immediately.