The facts
What selenite actually is
The species behind selenite is gypsum, CaSO₄·2H₂O; it forms in the monoclinic system.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.520–1.530 and a specific gravity of about 2.30–2.33, with perfect, one direction cleavage.
Where selenite comes from
Commercial material comes from Naica, Mexico, Morocco and Oklahoma, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
Is selenite treated?
None. Dissolves in water.
That makes disclosure simple: there is nothing to declare. It also means a seller offering a "treated" version of this material is offering something else.
What selenite is confused with
Watch for Quartz, Calcite and Glass — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.520–1.530 and specific gravity 2.30–2.33 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What selenite is used for
The trades that buy selenite are lighting, wellness and body care, decorative objects and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the panel, by the kilo or by the piece.
Durability and care
Hardness 2; cleavage perfect, one direction. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What selenite costs
Expect roughly $0.05–2/g, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is selenite treated?
None. Dissolves in water.
Where does selenite come from?
Naica, Mexico, Morocco and Oklahoma, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is selenite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does selenite cost?
Indicatively $0.05–2/g. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is selenite confused with?
Most often Quartz, Calcite and Glass. A refractive index of 1.520–1.530 and a specific gravity near 2.30–2.33 separate it quickly.
What is selenite used for besides jewellery?
lighting, wellness and body care, decorative objects and mineral collecting. Each of those trades buys it in a different form and a different unit.
Related stones
Looking for selenite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about selenite