Guide to minerals: Selenite

Jerrod Gallup (USA)

I got this selenite crystal at the first Pebble Pups meeting I attended. As a result, I researched this crystal and found lots of interesting facts, in particular, that it was very unique. This particular crystal was found in Oklahoma in 1970. In fact, you can go to Oklahoma and find selenite crystals on the salt plains there and the hourglass-shaped selenite crystals are only found at this location. It is also the Oklahoma State Crystal.

Facts on file Formula: CaSO4 2H2O Category: Sulphate mineral Crystal system: Monoclinic Mohs hardness scale: 2 Lustre: Pearly Streak: White Colour: Can be green, brownish, yellow, greenish, gray green or gray white Selenite crystals are found in: Mexico and Oklahoma

Haiku

An orange crystal

Formed by nature’s loving hands

In the soft brown ground.

About the author

Jerrod Gallup (age 9) is a third grader at Columbine Elementary School, Woodland Park, CO. He belongs to the Lake George Gem and Mineral Club.

Further reading

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selenite_(mineral).

www.statesymbolsusa.org/Oklahoma/stateCrystalOklahoma.html.