Geology / History
Selenite is a form of Gypsum, as are Satin Spar, Desert Rose & Gypsum Flower. All four varieties of Gypsum show obvious crystalline structure. They sometimes grouped together & collectively called Selenite. All varieties of Gypsum, including Selenite & Alabaster, are composed of calcium sulfate dehydrate. This means it has two molecules of water with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. Selenite contains no significant selenium. The similarity of names comes from both substances being named from the Ancient Greek word for the Moon.
Selenite crystals commonly occur as tabular, reticular & columnar crystals often with no imperfections or inclusions. They can appear water or glass-like. Many collectible Selenite crystals have interesting inclusions such as related minerals, interior druze, dendrites & fossils. In some rare instances water is encased as a fluid inclusion while the crystal formed. Selenite crystals sometimes form in thin tabular or mica-like sheets & have been used as glass panes as at Santa Sabina in Rome.
Selenite crystals sometimes will also exhibit bladed rosette habit, usually transparent & like desert roses. Often with transparent, columnar crystals. Selenite crystals can be found both attached & unattached to a matrix or base rock. They are commonly found as entire free-floating crystals often in clay & sand beds. Satin spar is almost always prismatic and fibrous in a parallel crystal habit. Satin spar often occurs in seams, some of them quite long & often attached to a matrix or base rock.
Desert roses are most often bladed, exhibiting the familiar shape of a rose & almost always have an exterior druse. Desert roses are almost always unattached to a matrix or base rock. Gypsum flowers are most often acicular, scaly, stellate & lenticular. They often exhibit simple twinning, known as contact twins where parallel, long, needle-like crystals, sometimes having severe curves & bends. Frequently forming “ram’s horns”, "fishtail", "arrow/spear-head", & "swallowtail" twins. Both Selenite crystals & Gypsum flowers can form quite dense acicular mats or nets. They can be quite brittle and fragile.
Metaphysical Properties
This beautiful creations cleans all your other crystals & never needs energetic cleaning. Selenite brings great clarity of mind allowing higher Angelic understanding to be conceived by the conscious mind. An extremely calming stone that instils a deep sense of peace. It pinpoints lessons & issues that are still unfinished & how to work on them, releasing the damage they have caused.
Selenite clears confusion & helps you to see the souls purpose. The cycles of life are understood & embraced when Selenite becomes your ally. A non-judgmental, compassionate perspective is another one of its gifts. Pure Selenite is a link to the light body & higher self, which opens all chakras powering the light body, this creates an ideal healing energy.
A large piece of Selenite placed in the house ensures a peaceful atmosphere & removes all negative energies, opening the pathway to create your souls purpose. Fear becomes a non issue with Selenite by our side as it shows us a powerful loving energy that knows no bounds & requires no justification for its eternal existence.
Crystal Healing
Aligns spinal column promoting flexibility. Neutralises poisoning from dental amalgam. Excellent for breastfeeding.
Mineralogy
Group: Sulfates
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Composition: CaSO4 · 2H2O
Colour: Colourless, white, light brown, yellow, pink
Form/Habit: Prismatic to tabular
Hardness: 2
Cleavage: Perfect
Fracture: Splintery
Lustre: Subvitreous to pearly
Streak: White
Specific Gravity: 2.3
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
R.I: 1.520-01.53
Selenite is a form of Gypsum, as are Satin Spar, Desert Rose & Gypsum Flower. All four varieties of Gypsum show obvious crystalline structure. They sometimes grouped together & collectively called Selenite. All varieties of Gypsum, including Selenite & Alabaster, are composed of calcium sulfate dehydrate. This means it has two molecules of water with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. Selenite contains no significant selenium. The similarity of names comes from both substances being named from the Ancient Greek word for the Moon.
Selenite crystals commonly occur as tabular, reticular & columnar crystals often with no imperfections or inclusions. They can appear water or glass-like. Many collectible Selenite crystals have interesting inclusions such as related minerals, interior druze, dendrites & fossils. In some rare instances water is encased as a fluid inclusion while the crystal formed. Selenite crystals sometimes form in thin tabular or mica-like sheets & have been used as glass panes as at Santa Sabina in Rome.
Selenite crystals sometimes will also exhibit bladed rosette habit, usually transparent & like desert roses. Often with transparent, columnar crystals. Selenite crystals can be found both attached & unattached to a matrix or base rock. They are commonly found as entire free-floating crystals often in clay & sand beds. Satin spar is almost always prismatic and fibrous in a parallel crystal habit. Satin spar often occurs in seams, some of them quite long & often attached to a matrix or base rock.
Desert roses are most often bladed, exhibiting the familiar shape of a rose & almost always have an exterior druse. Desert roses are almost always unattached to a matrix or base rock. Gypsum flowers are most often acicular, scaly, stellate & lenticular. They often exhibit simple twinning, known as contact twins where parallel, long, needle-like crystals, sometimes having severe curves & bends. Frequently forming “ram’s horns”, "fishtail", "arrow/spear-head", & "swallowtail" twins. Both Selenite crystals & Gypsum flowers can form quite dense acicular mats or nets. They can be quite brittle and fragile.
Metaphysical Properties
This beautiful creations cleans all your other crystals & never needs energetic cleaning. Selenite brings great clarity of mind allowing higher Angelic understanding to be conceived by the conscious mind. An extremely calming stone that instils a deep sense of peace. It pinpoints lessons & issues that are still unfinished & how to work on them, releasing the damage they have caused.
Selenite clears confusion & helps you to see the souls purpose. The cycles of life are understood & embraced when Selenite becomes your ally. A non-judgmental, compassionate perspective is another one of its gifts. Pure Selenite is a link to the light body & higher self, which opens all chakras powering the light body, this creates an ideal healing energy.
A large piece of Selenite placed in the house ensures a peaceful atmosphere & removes all negative energies, opening the pathway to create your souls purpose. Fear becomes a non issue with Selenite by our side as it shows us a powerful loving energy that knows no bounds & requires no justification for its eternal existence.
Crystal Healing
Aligns spinal column promoting flexibility. Neutralises poisoning from dental amalgam. Excellent for breastfeeding.
Mineralogy
Group: Sulfates
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Composition: CaSO4 · 2H2O
Colour: Colourless, white, light brown, yellow, pink
Form/Habit: Prismatic to tabular
Hardness: 2
Cleavage: Perfect
Fracture: Splintery
Lustre: Subvitreous to pearly
Streak: White
Specific Gravity: 2.3
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
R.I: 1.520-01.53