Alabaster is a fine-grained, massive variety of gypsum that is prized for its translucency and softness, making it ideal for delicate carvings. It is typically found in massive, sedimentary beds where it forms from the evaporation of ancient saline waters.
Is this alabaster?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch alabaster with a known reference. Alabaster sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Alabaster leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Alabaster typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, gray, yellowish, pinkish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Alabaster vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Marble is the harder of the two (Mohs 3-4 vs. 2); luster reads pearly on Alabaster and subvitreous on Marble.
How to tell apart: Calcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 2); luster reads pearly on Alabaster and vitreous on Calcite.
How to tell apart: Quartz is the harder of the two (Mohs 7 vs. 2); luster reads pearly on Alabaster and vitreous on Quartz.
Often found alongside alabaster
Minerals reported to co-occur with alabaster. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaSO₄·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.3 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Decorative, Sculpture
- Host rock
- Evaporite Sedimentary Deposits
- Typical price
- $5-50 for decorative carvings
Where rockhounds find alabaster
4 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Italy
- Egypt
- United Kingdom
- USA
- Spain
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite sedimentary deposits country — that is the host setting where alabaster typically forms. If you start seeing halite, anhydrite, sulfur in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find alabaster on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
