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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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