Name/Title
GypsumEntry/Object ID
2009.62.51Description
Chemical Composition: CaSO4-2(H2O)
Crystal System: Monoclinic System
Description: Common Name: Gypsum
Chemistry: CaSO4-2(H2O), Hydrated Calcium Sulfate
Group: Sulfates
Location: Australia
Description: Pale green acicular or fibrous crystals, looks a little like puff balls
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is usually white, colorless or gray, but can also be shades of red, brown and yellow.
Luster is vitreous to pearly especially on cleavage surfaces.
Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m
Crystal Habits include the tabular, bladed or blocky crystals with a slanted parallelogram outline. The pinacoid faces dominate with jutting prism faces on the edges of the tabular crystals. Long thin crystals show bends and some specimens bend into spirals called "Ram's Horn Selenite" Two types of twinning are common and one produces a "spear head twin" or "swallowtail twin" while the other type produces a "fishtail twin". Also massive, crusty, granular, earthy and fiberous.
Cleavage is good in one direction and distinct in two others..
Fracture is uneven but rarely seen.
Hardness is 2 and can be scratched by a fingernail.
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.3+ (light)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are halite, calcite, sulfur, pyrite, borax and many others.
Other Characteristics: thin crystals are flexible but not elastic, meaning they can be bent but will not bend back on their own. Also some samples are fluorescent. Gypsum has a very low thermal conductivity (hence it's use in drywall as an insulating filler). A crystal of Gypsum will feel noticeably warmer than a like crystal of quartz.
Best Field Indicators are crystal habit, flexible crystals, cleavage and hardness.
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 2 Gypsum
Luster: Vitreous
Occurrence: Gypsum is a common mineral, with thick and extensive evaporite beds in association with sedimentary rocks. Deposits are known to occur in strata from as early as the Permian age. Gypsum is deposited in lake and sea water, as well as in hot springs, from volcanic vapors, and sulfate solutions in veins. Hydrothermal anhydrite in veins is commonly hydrated to gypsum by groundwater in near surface exposures. It is often associated with the minerals halite and sulfur.
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 2.3
Streak: white
Variety: Gypsum is one of the more common minerals in sedimentary environments. It is a major rock forming mineral that produces massive beds, usually from precipitation out of highly saline waters. Since it forms easily from saline water, gypsum can have many inclusions of other minerals and even trapped bubbles of air and water.
Gypsum has several variety names that are widely used in the mineral trade.
"Selenite" is the colorless and transparent variety that shows a pearl like luster and has been described as having a moon like glow. The word selenite comes from the greek for Moon and means moon rock.
Another variety is a compact fiberous aggregate called "satin spar" . This variety has a very satin like look that gives a play of light up and down the fiberous crystals.
A fine grained massive material is called "alabaster" and is an ornamental stone used in fine carvings for centuries, even eons.
Crystals of gypsum can be extremely colorless and transparent, making a strong contrast to the most common usage in drywall. The crystals can also be quite large. Gypsum is a natural insulator, feeling warm to the touch when compared to a more ordinary rock or quartz crystal. Sheets of clear crystals can be easily peeled from a a larger specimen.Collection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2009.62Source or Donor
Museum Collection of MineralsAcquisition Method
DonationDimensions
Width
7-1/2 inDepth
3 inLength
12 inWeight
5.87 ozDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Wall
CenterBuilding
Freida Smith HallCategory
PermanentMoved By
Steve MillerDate
June 18, 2013Location
Container
LeftDrawer
BottomShelf
Left, LeftWall
NorthRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Steve MillerDate
July 11, 2012Location
Container
rightDrawer
Top ShelfShelf
Right, RightWall
South wallRoom
Delmar Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Wendy MondryDate
January 12, 2010Location
Drawer
Bottom LeftCabinet
Case #27Wall
Back WallRoom
Freida HallBuilding
Freida Smith HallCategory
Permanent