You can mark selenite with a fingernail. Few crystals are that soft. It is also one of the easiest to recognise: white, translucent, with a soft line of light that moves along the stone. People often ask if it counts as a crystal at all. This guide gives the short answer and then the details.
Is Selenite a Crystal?
Yes. A crystal is a solid whose atoms sit in a repeating pattern. Selenite has that pattern, so it is a crystal and a mineral. Its mineral name is gypsum.
The word selenite is used in two ways. In geology, it names the clear, glassy form of gypsum. In shops, it is also used for satin spar, the fibrous form of gypsum. Our towers are cut from satin spar. Both forms are the same mineral.
What Selenite Is Made Of
Selenite is gypsum, which is hydrated calcium sulfate. On the Mohs scale of hardness it rates 2. A fingernail can scratch it, and a hard knock can chip it.
Satin spar is built from fine parallel fibres. They run the full height of a tower. As the light moves, a soft sheen travels up the stone. The name for this effect is chatoyancy. The stone is translucent, so light enters it and the tower seems to glow from inside.
The Name and Its History
The name selenite comes from selene, the Greek word for moon. Many people link the stone with moonlight because of its pale, soft glow. That link comes from the look of the stone, and it has lasted for a very long time.
Gypsum itself has been used by people for thousands of years. It is the base of plaster, and builders in the ancient world shaped it for walls and decoration. Carved pieces such as towers are a newer use of the same mineral.
Our selenite towers come from Morocco.
How People Use Selenite Today
Selenite is not burned. It is not worn on the wrist either, because it is too soft. People keep it as a standing piece in a room they use every day. Common places are a shelf, a desk, a bedside table or an entryway.
Many people use a selenite tower as a quiet focus in their space. Some place it in a corner for the soft light. Others set it among other crystals as part of a small display. Some include it in a daily ritual, such as pausing for a minute at the same spot each morning.
A tower also works as a lamp of a gentle kind. A small light under it makes the fibres show. This is why many towers stand on a lit base.
How to Choose a Selenite Tower
Start with the size and the space. Our towers come in three heights. The 20cm selenite tower suits a desk or a small shelf. The 30cm selenite tower is a good size for a side table. The 40cm selenite tower stands tall on a console or a floor shelf. The larger sizes stand on a low LED light base.
Then look at the stone. Check that the sheen runs the full height. Look for even translucence. Small marks are normal in a natural stone, so expect each tower to look a little different.
If you want to light a smaller tower yourself, a base can help. The wooden LED base has a polished finish and three light tones: warm, cool and neutral. It is made to show translucent objects such as crystals.
- Choose the height by the space where it will stand.
- Look for a sheen that runs the full height.
- Choose a warm or a cool light, depending on your room.
How to Care for Selenite
Gypsum slowly dissolves in water, so keep your tower dry. Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth. Do not soak it or leave it in a damp room such as a bathroom.
Place it where it will not be knocked. A flat, steady surface is best. Because the stone is soft, move it with both hands and lift it from the base.
Treated with care, a selenite tower will keep its sheen. It is a simple stone, made of a common mineral, and its quiet glow is the reason people have kept it close for so long.
