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.
Smoke effects are created by zinc (sphalerite).
Bright flashes and loud bangs come from aluminum powder (bauxite).
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Related
What is sterling silver? What is sterling silver?
Sterling silver is the standard of quality for articles containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper (and/or other alloys).
Related
What is sterling silver? What is sterling silver?
Sterling silver is the standard of quality for articles containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper (and/or other alloys).
Updated Date: July 1, 2025