Which crystals can withstand water?
When cleansing your crystals, you should always be aware of whether your crystals are water-resistant. Not all crystals are water-resistant, and it can be difficult to find them.
The rule of thumb, which is easy to navigate, is that crystals ending in -it do not tolerate water. That is, Calcite, Labradorite, Selenite, Pyrite, etc.
Nevertheless, it is a truth with modifications, because there are both crystals that end in -it that are water-resistant, and crystals that do not end in -it that are not water-resistant.
If you want to be absolutely sure, you need to know the hardness of the crystal. If the hardness is below 6 on the Mohs scale, it cannot withstand water and will slowly break down if it comes into contact with water. However, this only applies if it is a mineral you are dealing with, and not crystal glass such as Obsidian.
You should also pay attention to whether there is iron content in the crystal. If there is iron in it, it can rust after contact with water, and the color and texture will change.
There can also be a difference in hardness, depending on where in the world the crystal is found. The same type of crystal can therefore have a different hardness, depending on whether it was found in China or Brazil. Ask where you bought your crystal if you are in doubt. At Soulful you can always read under the item "Clean" of a product whether the crystal can withstand water or not. Because there can be differences, we use a precautionary principle – a principle that is included in this guide.
What happens if I put a crystal in water that can't tolerate it?
When a crystal that cannot tolerate water comes into contact with water, for the most part nothing will happen at first.
Over time, your crystals can disintegrate and become dull. Many of us make mistakes with our crystals because we want to give them a quick clean under the tap, and if that's the case, nothing should happen. Energetically, the crystal is still intact, and it's often the guilty conscience that sticks around the longest.
You should also be aware that palms can be damp, and this can also damage crystals over time if they have a hardness below 6.
Crystals that tolerate water:
- Agate
- Aquamarine
- Aventurine
- Bloodstone
- Chalcedony
- Chrysoprase
- Elite Shungite
- Grenade
- Jasper
- Carnelian
- Quartz crystals, such as Amethyst, Ametrine, Rock Crystal, Smoky Quartz, Citrine, Rose Quartz
- Kyanite
- Larimar
- Obsidian
- Onyx
- Peridot
- Pink Amethyst from Brazil
- Prehnite
- Ruby
- Emerald
- Sunstone
- Tektites such as Moldavite, Libyan Desert Glass and Colombianite
- Turquoise
- Tourmaline
- Unakite
Crystals that do not tolerate water:
- Amazonite
- Angelite
- Apatite
- Apophyllite
- Aragonite
- Azurite
- Calcite
- Celestite
- Chrysocolla
- Fluorite
- Howlite
- Hematite
- Jade
- Kunzite
- Labradorite
- Lapis Lazuli
- Lepidolite
- Malachite
- Muscovite
- Moonstone
- Opal
- Pink Amethyst from Argentina
- Pyrite
- Rhodochrosite
- Salt crystals
- Selenite
- Sodalite
- Tiger's eye
Are you curious about how to best cleanse your crystal? Read more here!
