Identifying Strontium Minerals

• Flame Color. Strontium compounds give a very strong and persist crimson flame. The only other flame witch is similar is that obtained form lithium. Strontium can be positively determined form lithium by the following test.
• Alkaline Reaction. When a mineral contains strontium in combination with a volatile acid, it will give, after ignition, a residue which will react alkaline on a piece of moistened turmeric paper.
• Precipitation as Strontium Sulfate. Strontium is precipitated form a mediumly dilute sulfuric acid. The precipitate is somewhat soluble and will not form in very dilute solutions (distinction from calcium and barium, which see).