Auction Win: ‘Hourglass’ Selenite (Phosphorescent)

Locality: Boulemane Province, Fès-Meknès Region, Morocco

Size: Miniature - 5 × 2.5 × 2 cm

An aesthetic fluorescent and phosphorescent selenite crystal displaying the ‘hourglass’ habit.

Selenite is the transparent variety of gypsum, a mineral with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O, named from the Greek word for "moon" due to its moon-like white reflections. This mineral was first described by J.G. Wallerius in 1747, and gypsum is commonly recognized as the key ingredient in drywall used in home construction.

Boulemane Province in the Fès-Meknès Region of Morocco is a notable manganese mining area, with operations at Azlag dating back to 1958, and is also recognized for producing high-quality calcite specimens from the Mahdi Ridge. The province lies within the geologically rich Middle Atlas and is part of the Upper Moulouya lead district, known for diverse mineralization including vanadinite, prehnite, and quartz. Collectors value Boulemane for its well-defined manganese deposits and the presence of rare secondary minerals in a classic North African mining setting. Its combination of historical mining activity and mineral diversity makes it a relevant and sought-after locality for serious mineral specimen collectors today.