Great for learning about mineral hardness - gypsum is soft enough to be scratched by a fingernail
Perfect size for use in classroom identification labs and exercises, correlates well to Next Generation Science Standards Evidence Statements
Gypsum is useful in lessons on cleavage and fracture as an example of imperfect cleavage planes
Specimen comes in clear labeled and barcoded bag for ideal storage
Gypsum is a sulfate mineral that often forms from evaporating lakes in what is known as an evaporite deposit. Crystals grow into soft, wide sheets, but gypsum is also commonly found filling veins and fractures in other rocks. Gypsum is one of the standards on the Mohs hardness scale, and its similar sppearance to other minerals makes it useful in identification exercises. This sample is also available in packs of 12.