Table of Contents

• Celestine: A Mineral Named for the Cosmos! by Jamison Brizendine 1–25
• Celestial Blue and the Deep Blue Sea by Howie Green 26–27
• Richard Bostwick and Tema Hecht Fluorescent Mineral Sale by John Smith, with contributions from Jim Van Fleet, Mark Dahlman, Steve Misiur, and Rich Keller 28–36

Celestine: A Mineral Named for the Cosmos!

By Jamison Brizendine · pp. 1–25

Celestine’s discovery, crystal habits, colors, and important localities are surveyed, with particular attention to Ohio and the Findlay Arch District. The article traces the mineral’s naming and describes notable specimens from quarries and mines across North America and elsewhere, including Crystal Cave on South Bass Island and the Lime City and Clay Center quarries. It also covers associations with minerals such as calcite, fluorite, strontianite, and sulfur, and reviews proposed explanations for celestine’s color and luminescent behavior.

Celestial Blue and the Deep Blue Sea

By Howie Green · pp. 26–27

Celestine skeletons in Acantharia connect marine biology with the ocean’s biological carbon pump. The article explains how these planktonic organisms form strontium sulfate spicules and, during cyst formation, produce dense celestine shells that sink through the water column, contributing to vertical transport of carbon and other elements. It summarizes research into the structure and crystallographic growth of Acantharian spicules, considers implications for biomineralization and materials science, and notes that the source of their luminescence remains uncertain.

Richard Bostwick and Tema Hecht Fluorescent Mineral Sale

By John Smith, with contributions from Jim Van Fleet, Mark Dahlman, Steve Misiur, and Rich Keller · pp. 28–36

The sale of specimens from Richard Bostwick and Tema Hecht’s collection at the Franklin Mineral Museum brought collectors together to acquire notable material from the Franklin and Sterling Hill mines. The account follows the fixed-price lottery and voice auction, recognizes the volunteers who organized the event, and recounts memorable bidding and collecting experiences. Featured specimens and stories include willemite, clinohedrite, margarosanite with axinite, and the distinctive “peaches and cream” willemite-calcite association, while reflecting on collection provenance and legacy.