New Stunning Selenite Specimens From Swan Hill, Victoria

These stunning selenite specimens were collected during one of our expeditions to the Swan Hill area of Victoria earlier this year. Each piece shows a remarkable variety of crystal growth, from fine, delicate needle-like crystals to larger, more substantial formations, reflecting how the conditions around a growing crystal can change over time.

The Swan Hill area provides the right combination of saline water, shallow lake environments and evaporation for gypsum crystals to form. As groundwater and lake water containing dissolved minerals evaporate, the concentration of calcium and sulphate increases until gypsum begins to crystallise. Over time, these crystals can grow within the lake sediments and around natural surfaces, producing the variety of crystal shapes and sizes found in these specimens.

We are still working through the material from this expedition, with plenty more pieces waiting to be cleaned and prepared. It’s always exciting to see what emerges as the specimens are carefully worked on.