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Alabaster facts for kids

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This page is about the mineral. For other uses, see Alabaster (disambiguation).
Alabaster.whole.600pix
A modern uplighter lamp made from Italian alabaster (white and brown types). The base is 5 inches (13 cm) in diameter
Tutankhamun's Alabaster Jar
Alabaster vase of Tutankhamun

Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals. Gypsum is a hydrous sulfate of calcium, and calcite is a carbonate of calcium. Gypsum is the alabaster of the present day; calcite is generally the alabaster of the ancients. Both are easy to work. They are attractive to look at. Both have been used for making a variety of artworks and objects, especially small carvings.

The two kinds are easy to tell apart. One is harder than the other. Calcite is hard (Mohs hardness 3). Gypsum is soft (Mohs hardness 1.5 to 2). It can be easily scratched by a fingernail. Also, calcite effervesces when it is treated with hydrochloric acid. Gypsum does not.

Images for kids

  • Lioness Bast cosmetic jar 83d40m tut burial artifact

    Calcite alabaster cosmetic jar topped with a lioness, representing the goddess Bast; from the tomb of Tutankhamun (d. 1323 BC). Egyptian Museum, Cairo.

  • Septimius Severus busto-Musei Capitolini

    Alabaster bust (excluding the head) of Septimius Severus at the Musei Capitolini, Rome

  • MorellaSantaMariaWindow

    Alabaster windows in the Church of Santa Maria la Mayor of Morella, Spain (built 13th-16th centuries)

  • Alabastro z05

    Alabaster workshop in Volterra, Italy

  • Calcite dish. From Royal Tomb "U", Semerkhet, at Abydos, Egypt. 1st Dynasty. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

    Calcite dish from the Ancient Egyptian tomb of "U", Semerkhet

  • The Royal lion hunt reliefs from the Assyrian palace at Nineveh, a dying male lion, about 645-635 BC, British Museum (12254756385)

    Wounded lion, detail from the Lion Hunt of Ashurbanipal, 7th century BC, British Museum

  • English - Resurrection - Walters 27308

    Resurrection of Christ, typical Nottingham alabaster panel from an altarpiece set, 1450–1490, with remains of the paint

  • Willem van den Broecke - Sleeping nymph

    Attributed to Willem van den Broecke, Rijksmuseum

  • Ebih-Il Louvre AO17551 n01

    Statue of Ebih-Il, Mari on the Euphrates, made of gypsum alabaster (25th century BC)

  • Statue Ammaalay Louvre AO20282

    Alabaster statue, Yemen (1st century BC)

  • Assyrian royal lion Hunt19

    Assyrian relief; King Ashurbanipal spears a lion

  • Norbury, Derbyshire - Nicholas Fitzherbert

    Alabaster sepulchral monument of Nicholas Fitzherbert, d. AD 1473, in St Mary and St Barlock's Church, Norbury, England

  • Fossanova Abbey fc02

    Alabaster windows in the choir of Fossanova Abbey church (12th century) in Latina, Italy

  • Casamari coro

    Alabaster windows and rosette in the central apse of Casamari Abbey church (1203–1217) in Lazio, Italy

  • Orvieto083

    Alabaster window in Orvieto Cathedral (14th century), Italy

  • Archaizing Relief of a Seated King and Attendants, late 19th century

    Archaizing Relief of a Seated King and Attendants, Iran, Qajar period (late 19th century CE, in the style of 5th–4th century BC). Brooklyn Museum.

  • Alabasterlampe Umgang Oktogon erleuchtet

    Alabaster lamp, Aachen Cathedral, Germany (early 20th century)

  • Alabaster-satin spar

    Objet d'art with gypsum alabaster base, showing typical mottling (modern)

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Alabastro para niños

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Alabaster Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.