Group Info Group Founded 17 Years ago 446 Members
43,374 Pageviews509 Watchers

Announcement

This group will be migrated to the new design soon. Please contact the group admins to start the migration and save content the group may lose access to.

Favourites

Larimar And Sodalite Cuff by songofabanshee Larimar And Sodalite Cuff :iconsongofabanshee:songofabanshee 10 6 Watzmann by TheEmpatheticCat Watzmann :icontheempatheticcat:TheEmpatheticCat 17 1 Golden Fossils by systemcat Golden Fossils :iconsystemcat:systemcat 9 1 Moldavite by Sayarein Moldavite :iconsayarein:Sayarein 18 2 Deep Reflection 1 by Dave2712 Deep Reflection 1 :icondave2712:Dave2712 15 0 Sangria Lace cabochon by songofabanshee Sangria Lace cabochon :iconsongofabanshee:songofabanshee 22 3 Ammonite by 300kilohertz Ammonite :icon300kilohertz:300kilohertz 20 4 Palette Springs by BigxCaliber Palette Springs :iconbigxcaliber:BigxCaliber 17 0 Scary caves by Kayrash Scary caves :iconkayrash:Kayrash 25 10 GeoRainbow by lilfairywren GeoRainbow :iconlilfairywren:lilfairywren 23 2 Botswana Agate by songofabanshee Botswana Agate :iconsongofabanshee:songofabanshee 26 0 Prehnite with Epidote crystals by MihaiMargineanu Prehnite with Epidote crystals :iconmihaimargineanu:MihaiMargineanu 2 0 J99 by fuckindriver J99 :iconfuckindriver:fuckindriver 5 0 Ammonite section 2.0 by MarkM98 Ammonite section 2.0 :iconmarkm98:MarkM98 9 0 Ammonite by MarkM98 Ammonite :iconmarkm98:MarkM98 9 0
Favourites from DeviantArt.

Deviants

Affiliates

Other fantastic clubs on DA.
:iconscience-illustration::icondeutschedichter::iconart--is--love::iconbeautifulstones::icongeogallery::iconworldthroughyoureyes::icononlyonmuseumavenue::iconprimitivetech::iconi-heart-so::iconepic-earth-scene::iconfossilsforever::icontrilobiting::iconammonite-fossils::iconall-is-acceptable::iconammonites:

Contests

Affiliated clubs that are running contests right now

Photography Contest: dossium.deviantart.com/journal…


Selenite [pronounced: sel·e·nite | \ˈse-lə-ˌnīt\] (CaSO4 2H20, Hydrous Calcium Sulfate or Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate) is a variety of Gypsum. Gypsum is one of the most common sulfate minerals found in the Earth’s rocks. Gypsum is formed from the crystallisation of evaporated ancient sea beds, lakes and hot water springs.

Selenite’s hardness on the Mohs scale is 2, its lustre is vitreous or pearly, its streak is white, and its system is monoclinic. Selenite forms in crystals which can be tabular (many-sided), bladed (fanlike), or blocky (cubic).  It is typically colourless, but sometimes contains pale tints due to inclusions. If impurities are present, gypsum may also appear to be red, brown, greenish or yellow. Impurities are other mineral inclusions such as, copper ores, sulfur and sulfides, silver, iron ores, coal, calcite, dolomite, and opal. Selenites can also occur in geodes alongside Quartz. Some specimens can be fluorescent or phosphorescent.

Selenite is a very soft stone and can be scratched with a fingernail. It will soften when exposed to humidity and will separate into thick flakes in water and dissolve.  It is readily cleaved into natural wands and sheets, and it often sold in this form. It is also somewhat flexible and can be bent with gentle pressure (e.g. Ram’s horn formations). Selenite has a natural thermal composition which makes it warm to touch.

Selenite is known as the Moonstone. Ancient cultures believed that transparent crystals waxed and waned with the moon. Since Selenite is quite translucent (it has a pearl-like lustre) it incorporates the word, Selene, meaning the moon (Selinete – Middle English; Selinites - Greek; Selenite - Roman).

Other names for Selenite include Maria Glass, Satin Spar, Desert Rose, and Sericolite.

Selenite has been used in window panes, such as in the Basilica of Saint Sabina in Rome. These days Selenite is often made into lamps, used in jewellery, and ornamentation. It is widely mined and is used as a fertiliser, and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster, blackboard chalk and wallboard.

Selenite is most notably found in Europe, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, and Australia.

Further reading:-
geology.com/minerals/gypsum.sh…
www.minerals.net/mineral/gypsum.aspx
geology.wikia.com/wiki/Selenite
www.memphisgeology.org/g_selenite.htm

Selenite submitted on DA.

Spires by Mountaineer47 Selenite by Sayarein Selenite Fibers by Forbiddenynforgotten Selenite by Jataksu Yellow Flowers and Selenite by wondrousbutstrange:thumb593499672:




The Latest

Welcome to all new members and watchers! A Hello! to club-affiliates. And a big Thanks to all who have submitted to the club over the last few weeks. Your contributions are appreciated!

Updates

- Blog updated.
- Folders tidied.
- Favourites updated
- Featured Updated

Feel free to drop a note if you have any queries.

All the best!
Rockhounds Admin.




Affiliate News

Be sure to check out the affiliates contest box at the bottom of the page, if you're interested. It's usually updated when an affiliate is running a contest or close to closing one.

If you're an affiliate be sure to send us contest information through notes.
More Journal Entries

Group Information.

Rockhounds Club

We'd love to see your Geological submissions...

Please submit to our RockHounds Gallery!

Please Note - The club has expanded to be more inclusive. We want to encourage all the interests people have around Geology. So, we do accept all submissions related to Geology. This includes Minerals, Rocks, Fossils, Man-made & Altered specimens, Gemstones & Lapidary Work, Volcanics, Caves, Mountains, Coast, Inspired Art and other things related to Geology that haven't been mentioned!

Joining and Submitting to the Group!

To Join: Simply select the 'Join' button at the top of the page. To help the community grow it would be much appreciated (although not expected) if members and watchers could list the group in journals or signatures or advertise in some other way.

If you do not wish to join, but still wish to follow the group select the 'deviantwatch' button.

To Submit Art: All deviations must be related to Geology. Meaning they must feature natural geology and not man-made structures (e.g. walls, buildings, pathways, gravestones, statues...etc.). Please use the 'submit art' button at the top of the page to submit. There should also be a tutorial on submissions to the left-side of the screen if you're feeling stuck.

Please note: All deviations need to be approved of first before they will appear in the gallery. There is no limit (currently) on how many deviations you can submit each week.

If you have questions be sure to note the club!

Comments


Add a Comment:
 
:iconmauijam:
Mauijam Featured By Owner Jun 12, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
Where is the join button its not showing...
Reply
:iconmoltresflare:
moltresflare Featured By Owner May 19, 2013  Hobbyist Artisan Crafter
hey guys i just got some rocks in phoenix arizona and i forgot to get the staff to write down what they are, i want to upload them to here for identifacation, so let me know if thats ok
Reply
:iconbohemiangypsy:
bohemiangypsy Featured By Owner May 21, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
Hi,

yes, that's fine. :)
Reply
:iconmoltresflare:
moltresflare Featured By Owner May 21, 2013  Hobbyist Artisan Crafter
i will upload the pics soon, lol i got to get in better light my room is dark and not the best camera
Reply
:iconneocyania:
NeoCyania Featured By Owner Feb 19, 2013  Hobbyist Digital Artist
Thanks for accepting :)
Reply
Add a Comment: