Celestine (Specimen #100062)

Mineral(s): Celestine, Calcite

Location: Dundas (South) Quarry, (Lafarge, Canada Crushed Stone) West Flamborough Township, Hamilton, Ontario 

Size: 3.9 x 3.8 x 1.3 cm - Celestine crystal 1.6 x 1.5 cm

Description:  An attractive, tabular light blue and grey celestine crystal in a sparkling calcite druse from a famous and historic Canadian location. This crystal has a sharp termination on three sides with the fourth side attached to matrix. The crystal has excellent luster and is translucent with some calcite on one face. These specimens are getting increasingly difficult to acquire - an old one collected in the 1970’s in what was then called the north quarry (now called the south quarry, immediately adjacent to Highway 5). There is no damage to the crystal and the specimen is generally in very good condition.

The Lafarge quarry has operated under many names (Lafarge, Redlands Quarries, Steetley Industries, Canada Crushed Stone for over 80 years. The site is famous for celestine, fluorite, galena and calcite. The host rock is Lockport Dolomite and is located on the Niagara Escarpment which extends into the Lockport area of New York state. Mineral collecting has not been permitted at this site for many years and it is considered a ‘closed’ location.