USGS Frequently Asked Questions
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Question:
Do minerals produce the colors in fireworks?
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Answer: Mineral elements provide the color in fireworks. Barium produces bright greens; strontium yields deep reds; copper produces blues; and sodium yields yellow. Other colors can be made my mixing elements; strontium and sodium produce brilliant orange; Titanium, zirconium, and magnesium alloys make silvery white; copper and strontium make lavender. Gold sparks are produced by iron filings and small pieces of charcoal. Bright flashes and loud bangs come from aluminum powder.
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Source of this FAQ:
http://minerals.usgs.gov/west/morefun.shtml
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U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey