Guide
Gypsum specimens for sale
177 for sale · $50–$7,000 USD
481 in the gallery
Gypsum is a common sulfate mineral that forms as colorless to white crystals and masses, often displaying a silky to pearly luster. It occurs in a variety of habits, including tabular crystals, fibrous masses, and translucent to transparent sheets in alabaster and satin spar forms. Dependent on setting, gypsum can be found in evaporite environments and hydrothermal veins, with notable specimens emerging from decomposed sedimentary rocks and evaporitic beds. High-quality crystals from classic localities exhibit sharp termination and lustrous faces, while alabaster shows smooth, opaque to translucent sculpted forms ideal for carvings and display.
- Formula
- CaSO4 · 2H2O
- Rarity
- Common
- Stability
- Stable
- Collector interest
- Moderate Interest
- Classification notes
- Sulfates; calcium sulfate dihydrate (Strunz: 7.C)
Key characteristics
- Crystal system
- monoclinic
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Specific gravity
- 2.31–2.33
- Luster
- vitreous, pearly, silky, dull
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent, opaque
- Color
- colorless, white, gray, brown, red, orange, yellow, green
- Streak
- white
- Cleavage
- perfect
- Fracture
- uneven, splintery, fibrous
- Crystal habit
- prismatic, tabular, bladed, acicular, fibrous, radiating, druzy, granular, massive
- Gem mineral
- Fluorescent: white, yellow, orange, blue
- Classic / historic
Buy Gypsum specimens
View all 177Where Gypsum is found
Top localities
- Naica45 specimens
- Red River Floodway32 specimens
- Great Salt Plains21 specimens
- Lily Mine15 specimens
- Santa Eulalia Mining District14 specimens
- Cocineras Mine10 specimens
- Bleicherode9 specimens
- Bou Beker7 specimens
- Penfield Quarry7 specimens
- Salinas de Otuma6 specimens
Guides
All guides
Guide
Gypsum from Naica Mine, Mexico
Naica gypsum, Mexico - home to the Cave of Swords crystals; transparent to milky selenite blades, famed for colossal specimens and deep mining lore.Read guide
Guide
Gypsum from Fuentes de Ebro, Spain
Fuentes de Ebro gypsum - classic locality yielding water-clear, lustrous gypsum crystals on alabaster, with distinctive twinned blades prized by collectors.Read guideAbout Gypsum
Collectors prize gypsum for its range of appearances, from delicate, nearly transparent crystals to creamy, sculpted masses in alabaster. Classic destinations such as Mexico, the United States, Canada, Peru, and Australia yield a steady supply of well-formed specimens, reflecting gypsum’s widespread occurrence in sedimentary basins and arid climates. The mineral’s soft hardness and distinct cleavage make it an approachable addition for display mineral cabinets, while souvenir-grade alabaster remains popular with carvers and collectors seeking soft, workable material that still carries a classic mineral presence.
