What on Earth Is Gypsum?

Gypsum is a soft sulphate mineral (2 on the Mohs scale) found as alabaster, selenite and satin spar, and as the desert rose. It is one of the most widely mined minerals, used in plaster and wallboard as well as in collections. Here is what it is, where it forms and how people have used it. Clear gypsum crystals are sold as selenite.

The Physical Properties of Gypsum

Widely mined and used as the main constituent in many forms of wallboard, blackboard, and plaster and as a fertilizer. Gypsum is a soft sulphate mineral with a value of 2 on the Mohs scale of hardness.

Alabaster “ an ornamental stone used in exquisite carvings for eons

Satin spar “ this Gypsum variety has a satin-like look thanks to its fibrous crystals

Selenite “ the transparent and colourless type that has a moon-like glow and shows a pearl-like lustre

Gypsum crystals can be quite large, transparent and colourless, and are natural insulators. They feel warm to the touch when compared to quartz or ordinary rock crystal, and sheets of clear crystals can be peeled from a larger piece quite smoothly.

The History of Gypsum

Gypsum got its name from the Greek word “ Gypsos “ which means plaster. In Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, the Byzantine Empire, Medieval England and other cultures, Alabaster was used for sculpture. The largest Gypsum deposit on the planet is New Mexico (White Sands National Monument) with over 275 square miles of Gypsum dunes. A version of dehydrated Gypsum that hardens after adding water is known as plaster of Paris. In the mid-18^th century, its use as a fertilizer was investigated, and in the 19^th century, Gypsum was regarded as an excellent fertilizer. Eventually, that led to the Plaster War which happened in 1820, as anxious American farmers began to smuggle it. **

The Lore of Gypsum

In crystal lore, gypsum is a symbol of light and clear thinking. Alabaster is associated with welcome and good company. Selenite is linked with the crown chakra in chakra traditions, and desert rose with earthy, nurturing imagery. These are traditional associations, not effects on the body or mind.

The Metaphysical Properties of Gypsum

In crystal lore, alabaster is linked with calm and balanced decisions, and is associated with the sacral chakra. Its smooth, pale surface makes it a favourite for carved pieces.

Satin spar is a soft, silky-looking variety, and in crystal lore it is a symbol of gentleness and steady energy.

Selenite is traditionally linked with peace, which is why it is a favourite for meditation spaces. Some people place pieces at the corners of a room as a symbolic protective grid. In crystal lore it also stands for clarity and flexibility.

Desert rose is traditionally linked with feelings of safety and security, and many people simply enjoy it for its petal-like crystal clusters.