How to Tell If Selenite Crystal Is Real?

Is your selenite real or fake? In this article, we are going to discuss how to tell if selenite crystal is real.

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What is selenite?

Selenite is a crystallized version of a very soft stone called gypsum. Gypsum can crystallize in different ways. One of the ways is true selenite.

The true selenite definition is that it is clear, very glassy, and forms in very thin sheets. It can also crystallize into a more abundant version of gypsum called satin spar. This is a more silky, satiny, fibrous version of gypsum.

Selenite comes in different crystallized formations, is very abundant, and is a very soft stone. It is very easily obtainable.

If you want to know more in depth about selenite, check here,where you can find out all about its facts and metaphysical properties

Selenite: Meaning, Properties,Benefits,Uses

How can you tell if your selenite is real or fake?

First of all, lucky for us, we do not encounter much fake selenite out there because selenite is so abundant, affordable, and easy to get that there’s really no reason for anybody to fake it.

Usually, I tell people that if they have a suspicious specimen, they should send it to a certified gemological laboratory to make sure to know what they have.

But for selenite, even beginners can tell because it is a very easy test.

All you need to do is make sure that you can scratch the selenite with your fingernail. All stones are measured on the Mohs scale of hardness, which ranges from one (very soft, like talc) to ten (very hard, like diamond). Selenite registers at a two, so it is on the very soft side of the Mohs scale.

Your fingernails register at 2.5, making them harder than selenite. So, you can easily scratch your selenite and see a scratch on the surface. Especially with raw pieces, it is very easy to see.

If they are polished or coated like beads, it’s a little bit harder to scratch, but with a little pressure, you will see that you create a scratch as well if it is real selenite.

Another test to distinguish between real selenite and glass is to make sure there are no air bubbles within the stone.

Real selenite will have inclusions and veins, and all kinds of little minerals inside. Even if it is a very clear piece, you will see that it is a natural stone and will never have air bubbles, which indicates it is definitely not selenite.

Real selenite will flake off, powder, and break apart in your hand when you are handling it. This is just a natural part of using selenite in your practice, so be very careful when you are using it.

Another test to distinguish between selenite and plastic is that selenite will not burn or melt, whereas plastic will melt and have that gross plastic smell when exposed to a hot needle.

If you place the same needle on selenite, it won’t have that effect.

Lastly, selenite will dissolve in water after a prolonged period of time.

How do you tell true selenite from satin spar selenite?

This is the real question because you don’t really have to worry about fake selenites. You do want to know the distinction between true selenite and satin spar selenite because satin spar selenite is a little bit more rare and expensive.

One of the ways to distinguish the two is that true selenite is clear, colorless, and very glassy looking. Satin spar selenite is more opaque and white, and can also come in orangish, peachy, or yellow tones.

True selenite can have mineral inclusions that make it look a little gray, but the selenite itself is clear. True selenite forms in plates, thin sheets, also known as windowpane pieces.

Satin spar selenite grows in fibrous lines with very tiny striations. Each one of these is a crystallized gypsum in satin spar, which is very different from the thin sheets of true selenite plates.

Satin spar is known as the fibrous version of gypsum rather than the platy version. You can also tell the difference by how they look. The clarity of true selenite is very glass-like, whereas satin spar selenite has an iridescent, cat’s-eye, dancing sheen on the surface.

Is true selenite or satin spar selenite better for crystal healing?

This is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer raw gemstones to polished stones in their practice. Both versions of selenite are very similar and have the same energy metaphysically, so it doesn’t really matter which one you use. It just depends on which one you are more drawn to. Using them both together will make no difference at all.

We hope this article about how to tell if selenite crystal is real can help you out.