Celestine, Chrysanthemum Stone from Guilin, China

A Celestine Chrysanthemum Stone from Guilin, China: white radial celestine crystal aggregates on a dark carbonate matrix, whose growth geometry resembles chrysanthemum blossoms. A rare mineralization variant.

Celestine (strontium sulfate, SrSO₄) crystallizes orthorhombically in tabular or prismatic habits. The radially radiating aggregates visible here are formed by growth from a central crystallization nucleus in all directions, a phenomenon classified as spherulitic.

The dark matrix is sediment-organic colored limestone. The strong light-dark contrasts between white celestine rays and the black carbonate background make the piece a very legible teaching object of sediment mineralization.

Such chrysanthemum stones are formed by diagenesis processes, in which strontium-rich solutions in sediment cavities formed the radial celestine aggregates. Guilin is one of the few deposits worldwide that supplies such material in collector quality.

A collector's item with crystallographic educational value and visually strong contrast.