Sélénite, verre à mariée, belle

Specific crystalline structure (plates) make this product especially suitable for violin-making, where it is used as a clear filler in oil varnishes.

Selenite, also referred to as gypsum spar, is a colorless and transparent or translucent variety of the mineral gypsum. It is composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, and forms well shaped crystals that can be absolutely colorless and translucent. Selenite shows a pearl-like luster and has been described as having a moon-like glow. The word „selenite“ is derived from the Greek language, and literally means „moon rock“. The scholar and „father of mineralogy“ Agricola also used the term „Mary’s Glass“, thus in Germany and occassionally in Britain selenite is called Marienglas. Gypsum is one of the more common minerals in sedimentary environments. It forms massive beds usually from precipitation out of highly saline waters. Broken into small flakes selenite can be used as glimmer to decorate surfaces. Also, selenite is a special filler for fresco colors, the pure and pearl-like shine of this mineral giving wall paints an unusually high reflection value. The selenite from Kremer Pigmente comes from Cyprus.