Selenite
Variety of gypsum
Common · CaSO₄·2H₂O
The transparent crystalline variety of gypsum. Forms in evaporite sequences and in cave environments where calcium sulfate solutions precipitate slowly. Can grow into metre-scale crystals in stable underground conditions.
Identity
- Formula
- CaSO₄·2H₂O
- Chemical class
- Sulfate
- Used in alchemy
- Selenite Sliver
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Habits
- Tabular, Prismatic
- Fracture
- Splintery
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.32 g/cm³
- Luster
- Vitreous, Pearly
- Colors
- colorless, white, gray
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- Transparent, Translucent
Geology
- Origins
- Sedimentary
- Host rocks
- Limestone and chalk, Salt beds
- Associated minerals
- Halite, Calcite, Anhydrite
- Found in
- Evaporite deposit
- Geography
- Mexico (Chihuahua), USA (Utah, Oklahoma), Italy (Sicily), Spain (Zaragoza), Poland, Chile
Classification
- Rarity
- Common
- Gem quality
- No
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- Light, Arcane
- Effects
- Warding, Scrying
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
Sources
- Selenite. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- Gypsum. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Gypsum. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
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