Gypsum var. Selenite

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Selenite, the transparent variety of Gypsum, is a very fast-growing mineral given the right geological conditions, and can crystallize in enormous sizes. This extremely dramatic cluster from Wenshan is as good of an example as any, with the matrix being pierced by Arthurian Selenite swords reaching easily over a foot long. Each is perfectly terminated and see-through, and the surfaces are all beautifully delineated by countless parallel striations. This is among one of the largest specimens of the Kennedy collection, standing out from a group already curated according to imposing sizes, and has a remarkable presence that would easily make itself at home in any fine natural history museum.