Gypsum
Gypsum is a sulfate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with several world-class Chinese localities.
About Gypsum
Gypsum is classified as a sulfate mineral in the gypsum group and has the chemical formula CaSO₄·2H₂O. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and is one of the most visually varied minerals in the collector market. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.
Identification & care
Crystals commonly develop as tabular, prismatic, lenticular; swallowtail twins; massive; fibrous; acicular; rosette (desert rose). Its color range is broad, including colorless, white, gray, yellowish, greenish, pinkish, and brownish. The luster is vitreous, silky, pearly, the streak is white, and specimens range from transparent to opaque. The cleavage is perfect on {010}, distinct on {100} and {011} — perfect in one direction. The fracture is fibrous, conchoidal, which aids identification.
Collector context
How it forms
In terms of geology, Gypsum forms in evaporite deposits; hydrothermal veins; secondary mineral in oxidized ore zones; cave environments. It is commonly found in association with calcite, halite, anhydrite, celestine, sulfur.
Classic Chinese localities
Documented Chinese occurrences are recorded at Jiama Cu-polymetallic deposit, Lingxiang Mine and Dachang ore field, among others.
Why collectors care
Gypsum is a frequently-sought species in serious collections because its habit is recognizable, its color often strong, and its best examples unmistakable even at a distance. Chinese material has driven much of the recent visual shift in the species — sharper crystals, deeper colors, cleaner matrix.
What affects value
Value in Gypsum is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.
Naming history
The name Gypsum has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.
Available Gypsum specimens
Brown Gypsum Cluster, Popcorn Formation, Guizhou, China
Gypsum Flower Formation on Matrix, Guizhou
Gypsum Flower Mineral Specimen, Guizhou
Desert Rose Gypsum Double-Sphere, Mexico
Desert Rose Gypsum, Mexico
Gypsum Flower Needle Cluster, China
Gypsum Needle Formation – Radiating Clusters – China
Gypsum Flower Rosette – Daye Mine, Hubei, China
Gypsum Flower – Acicular Needle Crystals – Guizhou, China
Selenite Gypsum Flower – Peach and White – Guizhou, China
Gypsum Flower Crystal – Botryoidal – Guizhou, China
Purple Gypsum Crystal Cluster – Floral Form – Guizhou, China
Purple Gypsum – Acicular Form – Guizhou Province, China
Popcorn Gypsum – Nodular Texture – Guizhou Province, China
Gypsum Specimen, Guizhou, China
Popcorn Gypsum – Textured Nodular Form – Guizhou, China
