Five Surprising Facts about Selenite

Since an entire page of our website is devoted to Selenite and the above photo happens to be Littlefield Home’s very own Fishtail Selenite Specimen L345, it’s important to know a few interesting facts about this unique and historically significant mineral. Read on for five facts about Selenite that will blow your mind.

• ONE: The origin of the name “selenite” comes from the Greek word, “φεγγάρι,” which translates to “moon,” alluding to the shimmering, white moon-like surface of the mineral.

• TWO: Selenite’s connection to the moon continued into the Middle Ages, and selenite was thought to be the “soul of the moon.” Medieval people were so convinced of this connection that they believed selenite specimens expanded and shrank according to the moon’s phases.

• THREE: White/clear selenite typically come from Mexico, as explained in our previous blog post on the Naica’s Giant Crystal Mine, while green-hued selenite comes from Australia. Globally, selenite can be found in nine countries: Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Japan, Greece, Russia, Poland, Mexico, and the USA.

• FOUR: Historically, the first mention of selenite exists within in ancient records from Mesopotamia. Ancient Mesopotamians believed that selenite possessed the ability to eliminate evil spirits and they used selenite to treat disease.

• FIVE: Alternate names for selenite include “Gypsum,” “Satin Spar,” “Divine Light,” “Liquid Light,” and “Desert Rose.”

Information from Article 1 and Article 2.