You’re probably here because you’re looking for Selenite or Sodalite. Or maybe you're trying to figure out why that "Strawberry Quartz" you bought looks suspiciously like glass. It happens. The world of crystals that start with S is massive, ranging from common bedside companions to high-end collector minerals that cost more than a used car.
Honestly, the "S" category is where most people get started. It’s the gateway. You have the heavy hitters like Sunstone and Smoky Quartz, but there’s a lot of misinformation floating around about what these rocks actually do and where they come from. If you’re tired of the same three sentences of "healing properties" copy-pasted across every shop on the internet, let's get into the actual geology and the nuanced history of these stones.
Selenite: The Softest Giant in Your Collection
Let's talk about Selenite. It’s everywhere. It’s cheap, it’s white, and it’s actually a variety of the mineral gypsum.
If you have a "Selenite" wand, there’s a 99% chance it’s actually Satin Spar. They are both gypsum, yes, but they aren't the same. Real Selenite is transparent. It looks like a pane of glass or a frozen sheet of ice. Satin Spar is that fibrous, milky stuff that reflects light in a cat-eye effect. Does it matter? To a geologist, absolutely. To a casual collector, maybe not, but you should know what’s sitting on your shelf.
Here is the thing you have to remember: Selenite is incredibly soft. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, it’s a 2. Your fingernail is a 2.5. That means you can literally scratch your Selenite with your thumb. Also, don't put it in water. It won't disappear instantly like a sugar cube, but over time, it will lose its luster and eventually degrade because it’s a sulfate mineral.
Shungite and the Carbon Craze
Shungite is weird. It’s basically 2-billion-year-old coal from Russia, specifically the Karelia region. It’s almost entirely carbon. People obsess over it because it contains fullerenes—spherical carbon molecules.
Is it a "miracle stone" for EMF protection?
The science is messy. Fullerenes are real and used in nanotechnology and medicine, but a piece of rock sitting next to your router isn't an invisible force field. People love it because it’s matte black and feels lighter than it looks. There are two types: Elite (or Noble) Shungite, which is shiny and metallic, and regular Shungite, which looks like charcoal. If you touch the regular stuff, your hands will get black soot on them. That's not a "fake" stone; that's just how carbon works.
Sodalite vs. Lapis Lazuli
If you want a blue stone but don't want to pay Lapis prices, you get Sodalite. It’s the "poor man’s Lapis," though that’s kinda mean because Sodalite is beautiful in its own right.
Lapis has pyrite (gold flecks). Sodalite usually doesn't. Instead, Sodalite has white veins of calcite. It’s a sodium aluminum silicate. Fun fact: Hackmanite is a variety of Sodalite that changes color when the sun hits it. It’s called tenebrescence. One minute it’s pale, the next it’s purple. Nature is trippy.
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Smoky Quartz: Not Just "Dirty" Crystal
Smoky Quartz gets its color from natural irradiation. Basically, there’s aluminum in the crystal structure, and when it’s exposed to radiation from surrounding rocks over millions of years, it turns that signature tea-brown or deep black.
Most of the "Black Quartz" or "Morion Quartz" you see that is pitch black was likely treated in a lab with gamma rays to speed up the process. It's still quartz, but the color isn't "natural" in the sense of timing. Real, naturally dark Smoky Quartz usually has a bit of transparency when you hold it up to a light.
The Sunstone Deception
Sunstone is a gorgeous member of the feldspar family. It has these tiny copper or hematite inclusions that catch the light—a phenomenon called aventurescence.
But wait.
There is a huge market for "Goldstone," which is often sold alongside Sunstone. Goldstone is glass. It was invented in 17th-century Venice. It’s pretty, sure, but it’s man-made. If the "glitter" looks too perfect and geometric, it’s glass. Real Sunstone, especially the high-end Oregon Sunstone, has a more organic, glowing copper shimmer. Oregon Sunstone is actually a labradorite-based feldspar and is one of the few gemstones found in the United States that garners international respect in the jewelry trade.
Serpentine: The Great Imposter
Serpentine isn’t just one mineral. It’s a group of about 20 different minerals. It’s usually green and waxy, which is why it’s constantly being sold as "New Jade" or "Olive Jade."
It isn't jade.
Jade (nephrite or jadeite) is much tougher and more expensive. Serpentine is soft. If you’re buying a "jade" carving for $15, you’re probably holding Serpentine. It’s a fine stone, but calling it jade is a marketing tactic to hike the price. Always check the hardness. If a steel needle scratches it easily, it’s Serpentine.
Smithsonite and the Color Spectrum
Named after James Smithson (the guy who founded the Smithsonian Institution), Smithsonite is a zinc carbonate. It’s a collector's favorite because it comes in these bubbly, "botryoidal" shapes that look like bunches of grapes or melting wax.
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It comes in pinks, blues, and teals. The blue-green variety is often mistaken for Hemimorphite. Smithsonite is heavy—noticeably heavier than it looks. This is due to the zinc content. If you find a piece of "Blue Onyx" that feels incredibly dense and has a silky luster, take a closer look. It might be Smithsonite.
Important Distinction: Sapphire
We can't talk about "S" stones without Sapphire. Everyone thinks blue. But Sapphire is just the gem-quality version of the mineral corundum. If it's red, it's a Ruby. Every other color is a Sapphire.
Green, yellow, pink, even clear.
Corundum is a 9 on the Mohs scale. Only diamond is harder. This is why Sapphires are so expensive; they don't just look good, they last forever. Most "raw sapphire" sold in cheap crystal shops is low-grade opaque corundum from India. It’s real corundum, but it’s not "gemmy." Don't expect to cut a $5000 ring out of a $10 chunk of gray-blue rock.
Sugilite: The Purple Rarity
Sugilite is the "holy grail" for many purple stone lovers. It was discovered in Japan in the 1940s but the most famous deposit is the Wessels Mine in South Africa.
It’s often confused with Charoite.
How do you tell the difference? Charoite (from Russia) has a swirlier, "chatoyant" look, almost like silk. Sugilite is more solid, deep grape-jelly purple. It’s becoming increasingly rare and expensive. If you see a giant strand of "Sugilite" beads for $20, it’s dyed marble or quartz. Guaranteed. Genuine Sugilite has a very specific, rich depth that’s hard to fake once you’ve seen the real thing.
Staurolite: The Fairy Cross
Nature is weirdly geometric sometimes. Staurolite forms "twinned" crystals that create a perfect 90-degree or 60-degree cross. These are called "Fairy Crosses."
They aren't carved by people. They grow that way.
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Most are found in Fannin County, Georgia, or in parts of Virginia. People have used them as talismans for centuries. Because they are so popular, there are a lot of fakes made of molded clay or ground-up rock glued into a cross shape. Real Staurolite is a dull reddish-brown or black and has a slightly rough, sandpaper-like texture. If it feels like plastic or smooth ceramic, be suspicious.
Super Seven: Marketing vs. Reality
You’ll hear this name a lot in high-end crystal shops. Super Seven (or Melody’s Stone) is claimed to contain seven different minerals: Amethyst, Clear Quartz, Smoky Quartz, Cacoxenite, Rutile, Goethite, and Lepidocrocite.
Here’s the reality check.
While a massive hunk of the original rock might have had all seven, your tiny 1-inch tumbled stone almost certainly does not. You’re likely looking at Amethyst with some Goethite or Cacoxenite "hairs" inside. It’s a beautiful stone, but the "seven minerals" claim is often more of a branding exercise than a geological fact for every individual piece.
Sulfur: Beautiful but Stinky
Sulfur crystals are bright, neon yellow. They are stunning. They also smell like rotten eggs if they get warm or damp.
Don't put these in your pocket.
Sulfur is also quite brittle and sensitive to heat. Even the warmth of your hand can cause micro-fractures in a clear crystal. It’s a "look but don't touch" specimen for a cabinet, not something you want to carry around in a pouch.
Actionable Steps for Buying S-Crystals
If you're looking to add these to your life, don't just click "buy" on the first shiny thing you see. Follow these rules to make sure you aren't getting ripped off.
- The Scratch Test: If you're buying Selenite, try to scratch a tiny, inconspicuous spot with your fingernail. If it doesn't scratch, it's not Selenite (it might be Calcite).
- The Weight Check: When looking at Sodalite or Smithsonite, feel the "heft." Smithsonite should feel surprisingly heavy for its size. Sodalite should feel average.
- The Acetone Trick: If you suspect your "Sodalite" or "Sugilite" is dyed, rub a tiny bit of nail polish remover on a cotton swab and wipe a small area. If color comes off, it’s a fake.
- Magnetism: Genuine Shungite is not magnetic, but it is electrically conductive. You can actually use a piece of Shungite to operate a smartphone touch screen. If it doesn't work, it's probably just a black rock.
- Avoid "Aura" Coatings: You'll see "Satin Spar" or "Smoky Quartz" coated in a metallic sheen (Aura Selenite, etc.). This is a man-made vapor deposition of gold or titanium. It’s a real crystal underneath, but the "rainbow" is a factory process, not a natural occurrence.
Focus on the texture. Natural stones have flaws. They have "veils" and inclusions. If a stone is perfectly colored, perfectly shaped, and costs $5, it’s probably glass or resin. Genuine "S" crystals like Sugilite or high-grade Sunstone will have a price tag that reflects their rarity. Stick to reputable dealers who can tell you the specific mine or region the stone came from. "Russia" or "South Africa" is a start, but a real expert will usually know the specific province or district.