Selenite Rosette, Pisco, Peru

Contributed by: Chris Clemens
minID: PHW-HNC
Date: Apr 20th, 2026
Locality: Salinas de Otuma (Las Salinas; Salinas de Paracas), Otuma village, Paracas District, Pisco Province, Ica, Peru (See on Mindat)
Size: 56 x 41 x 71 mm
Weight: 80 g

Description:
This is a brightly fluorescent and phosphorescent rosette of flat, bladed, selenite crystals from Las Salinas de Otuma, Paracas, Pisco, Ica, Peru. Collected from a large evaporative salt mine located 130 feet below sea level, near Otuma village, 16 miles south of Pisco, this specimen is very similar in appearance and fluorescent response to the selenite rosettes from the notable Red River Floodway location in Manitoba, Canada.

This selenite from Pisco, Peru, is brightly fluorescent and phosphorescent under both longwave and shortwave UV.

Originally posted by Chris Clemens on Nature's Rainbows in 2020.

Fluorescence under longwave UV light.

Afterglow after exposure to longwave UV light.

Fluorescence under shortwave UV light.

Afterglow after exposure to shortwave UV light.

Normal light.

Summary of luminescence responses:

Gypsum var. Selenite (Mindat) (RRUFF)

• Fluorescence under Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: White
• Afterglow after exposure to Longwave (365nm LED) UV light: White
• Fluorescence under Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: White
• Afterglow after exposure to Shortwave (254nm Lamp/Mercury) UV light: White