What Hourglass Selenite Crystals Look Like & How Clusters Form
- Korina Dove
- Jan 22
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 7
Just driving onto the salt flats feels like an outerworldly experience, but the vast expanse of salt-covered earth that makes up the Great Salt Plains is not another planet. It is, however, the only place on earth where you can find hourglass selenite crystals. Find out what selenite hourglass crystals look like, learn how they form, and discover how to mine the most coveted jewel of all - the hourglass selenite crystal cluster!
Hourglass Selenite Crystals
Hourglass selenite crystals are a unique variety of selenite stone that forms a distinctive "hourglass" pattern within the crystal. The formation is made possible by the gypsum found in the soil at the Selenite Crystal Digging Area, part of Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge. When gypsum in the soil mixes with the salty groundwater of the salt flats, the crystals grow naturally beneath the flat surface.
What Hourglass Selenite Crystals Looks Like
Invisible when first found, the hourglass shape inside a crystal becomes apparent after the crystal fully dries. Holding crystals under natural light or viewing them under ultraviolet light brings out the distinct shape of the hourglass formation.
How Crystals Form at the Great Salt Plains
A true geological phenomenon, the Great Salt Plains are believed to have formed millions of years ago after shallow sea levels rose and fell over a long period of time, finally evaporating and leaving the landscape under a thin layer of salt. The plains remain under a constant layer of salt thanks to the saline groundwater that flows just below the surface. Through these conditions, hourglass selenite crystals are formed.
Time It Takes Hourglass Selenite Crystals to Form
Hourglass selenite crystals can take millions of years to form. Growing new crystals is a delicate process. Officials from the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge designate different sections of the salt flats for digging and rotate the areas as needed to give other areas time to replenish their crystal supplies.
How Big Do Hourglass Selenite Crystals Get?
While most hourglass selenite crystals measure between 1 and 3 inches, some crystals have measured up to 7 inches long. However, size isn't everything when it comes to crystal mining. The most sought-after formation is the crystal cluster, which occurs when several crystals grow together. Even tiny clusters are prized possessions. Because crystals are so delicate when they are wet, clusters are extremely hard to find intact and are even harder to extract without damage.
"Clusters at the Great Salt Plains have been found over the years in all shapes and sizes, the largest one weighing about 38 pounds!"
Have You Mined Crystals at the Great Salt Plains? Share your your haul on the Alfalfa County Buzz Facebook page.
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