What minerals produce the colors in fireworks?
Mineral elements provide the color in fireworks. Additional colors can be made by mixing elements:
Color Produced | Element(s) | Primary mineral ore(s) |
---|---|---|
bright greens | barium | barite |
deep reds | strontium | celestite |
blues | copper | chalcopyrite |
yellows | sodium | halite (rock salt) |
brilliant orange | strontium + sodium | celestite, halite |
silvery white | titanium + zirconium + magnesium alloys | ilmenite, rutile, zircon, dolomite, magnesite, brucite, carnallite, olivine |
lavendar | copper + strontium | chalcopyrite, celestite |
Gold sparks are produced by iron filings (magnetite, hematite) and small pieces of charcoal.
Bright flashes and loud bangs come from aluminum powder (bauxite).
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