Selenite and satin spar are similar-looking crystals. Most experts can tell you the difference by looking at these crystals.
The reason for the similar appearance is the same mineral source.
We will give you a satin spar vs. selenite comparison.
It will help you identify these crystals to complete your stone collection.
What are the key differences between Satin Spar and Selenite?
Satin Spar and Selenite, while both forms of gypsum, have distinct characteristics. Satin Spar appears fibrous and silky, while Selenite is more transparent and crystalline.
Despite being minerals, rhodonite and rhodochrosite differences lie in their composition and appearance鈥攔hodonite is usually pinkish with black veins, while rhodochrosite displays a beautiful pink to reddish coloration.
Satin Spar vs. Selenite: What’s the Difference?
Satin Spar and Selenite are different because of their transparency. Selenite is a transparent crystal as you can see the objects on the other side of the crystal. Satin spar is a milky material. You cannot see the objects on the other side of the satin spar because it is an opaque crystal.
There is a difference in the abundance also.
As most of the crystals are opaque, you will not find selenite in the market.
Sellers label the satin spar as the selenite to sell them at a higher price.
If someone asks you the difference between satin spar vs. selenite, you can tell them about the price.
Selenite is more expensive than satin spar crystals.
What Is Satin Spar?
Satin spar is a mineral from the gypsum family because it has a silk-white crystal appearance.
It scores three on the Moh hardness scale as it is more resistant to water than other materials from the gypsum family.
You will also find many colors in the satin spar.
Selenite does not have as many colorations.
You can polish the satin spar to make it pearly because it will give you excellent-looking jewelry.
The reason people cannot differentiate between the selenite and satin spar is the price.
Sellers want to sell the satin spar at a high price. They label it as the selenite.
It confuses people because they do not have accurate information about selenite crystal identification.
What Is Selenite?
Selenite is also a crystal from the gypsum family.
It is famous among rock hunters because it is one of the water-soluble transparent crystals.
This crystal scores two on the Moh hardness scale. It is not as hard as the satin spar.
You can scratch it with any substance you want.
It will dissolve in water quickly because of the low level of hardness.
You may find colorless crystals of selenite. It can also have some colors due to metal impurities.
People do not know its characteristics and call it gypsum.
It belongs to the gypsum class but has some differences from other substances in this class.
Transparency of selenite makes it different.
What Is Gypsum?
Gypsum is a sulfate mineral.
It is abundantly available on all the continents.
This mineral forms when water evaporates from the mixture.
You can find it in sea beds, caves, and salt beds.
It slowly forms in the layers as the water evaporates, leaving the substance layer on the existing gypsum.
You will find an anhydrate form of the gypsum in nature as it has a solid form.
You have to look for the selenite crystals in the layers of the gypsum.
You will find more of the satin spar and a few selenite crystals.
How to Tell the Difference between Satin Spar and Selenite?
You can tell the difference between Satin Spar and Selenite by looking at the transparency.
Selenite crystals are transparent.
Satin spar crystals are not transparent because you will find them in cloudy colors.
The most significant difference is the presence of chatoyancy.
You can take a light and put it on the satin spar crystals.
These crystals will show a light-colored line at the center.
It will reflect the light in the same way the cat’s eyes do when you put a light source in front of them in the dark.
You can also tell them apart by their prismatic characteristics.
Satin spar will convert the light to its component wavelengths.
You can see different light components from the satin spar crystals.
How Can You tell if Satin Spar and Selenite Aren’t Fake Crystals?
Some people want to make money by selling fake crystals.
People make selenite and satin spar stones from the plastics to scam people.
We will give you four ways to check the authenticity of Satin Spar and Selenite crystals.
- Apply the scratch test. You can use your nail to scratch these crystals. If your fingernail does not scratch it, the stones are made of plastic.
- Apply the heat test. You can heat a pin and touch the mineral. The hot needle will melt the plastic, making a hole. Authentic crystals will not melt.
- Use the dissolution test. Plastic does not dissolve in the water. Selenite will dissolve in the water fast.
- Use the perfection test. You can find some imperfections in the stones. The most expensive stones also have some imperfections. You can view them in the microscope also. Plastic stones do not have imperfections.
Can Satin Spar and Selenite Get Wet?
Satin Spar and Selenite should not get wet because they are anhydrite crystals.
These crystals have a low score on the Moh hardness scale.
They also have high water solubility. If you put them in water, these crystals will dissolve.
You should take some precautions when you use selenite jewelry.
If you want to swim, you have to take off the jewelry of selenite and satin spar.
Experts recommend that you take off the jewelry made from the selenite and satin spar before washing your hands.
Some drops of water can also damage its crystal structure.
These are not the only examples of anhydrite crystals that cannot go in the water.
Angelite is another example of these crystals.
Wrongly Translated Crystals when Buying Satin Spar and Selenite from Abroad
When you get a crystal from abroad, you may rely on the translation.
It is not the best way to get the crystals.
Most Russians name white fibrous stone made from the gypsum material selenite.
All the other parts of the world name it satin spar.
Russians give the satin spar name to all the gypsum materials.
You can avoid this confusion by receiving the stone with visual identifiers instead of the name.
You can buy the crystal by telling them that you want a transparent crystal with a specific size and properties.
It will help you avoid language confusion.
Marketers Are Marketing Selenite and Satin Spar Wrongly (It Is a Fraud)
One of the reasons people cannot identify the selenite and satin spar is marketers use fraudulent ways to market them.
They know that the people of Russia call the white stone selenite.
They use the same name in their marketing campaigns.
People believe what they see on the internet.
No one thinks it is wrong when they see a white opaque crystal with the name selenite.
They will carry this information in the market and buy the satin spar instead of the selenite.
Before You Buy Satin Spar and Selenite Online, Read This
You can remember the transparency factor when buying the selenite or satin spar.
Always look for transparent and clear crystals when you want to get selenite.
If the stone has a pearl-like cloudy appearance, it is not the selenite.
You should pay for it according to the price of the satin spar.
The chatoyancy is another factor in finding the stone correctly.
Identifying the crystal is the key to completing your crystal collection.
People compare Satin Spar vs. Selenite when they want to purchase one of these crystals.
What Are Satin Spar and Selenite Used For?
People used selenite to make glass.
Some old churches had these crystals in the windows.
Santa Sabina is one of the churches that used selenite for windows.
They used it because the selenite shows sheet-like properties.
You can get these crystals from the gypsum depositions.
Gypsum also has many applications in the cosmetic industry.
Companies use gypsum in plasters, shampoos, and creams.
Selenite and satin spar are famous for their metaphysical-related benefits.
What Are Satin Spar’s Metaphysical Properties?
People buy the satin spar in the form of crystal balls and palm stones.
People get amazed due to the chatoyancy.
Some believe that satin par can help practitioners look into the future.
It is due to the chatoyancy as the crystal appears mesmerizing.
You cannot make the crystal water from the satin spar as it has a low hardness level.
It will dissolve in the water if you keep it there for a long time.
You should not place harder stones with the satin spar because they may break the crystal.
Some people keep it in their homes to promote a calm environment.
You will feel more relaxed when you have satin spar crystals in your home.
What Are Selenite’s Metaphysical Properties?
People use selenite because of its healing properties.
If you have a mental block, you can keep some selenite crystals with you to clean your mind.
It will also help you get more ideas about your business.
Selenite is most abundantly used to cleanse the other crystals.
People keep their crystals with selenite if they do not want to put their stones in the water. Water can damage the stones.
Selenite will prevent this damage because it will cleanse the crystals without the water.
You cannot put the selenite in water because it will dissolve in water.
The water will become toxic when you add selenite to it.