What type of mineral do you think this is?

How is it formed?

What is it used for?

This is an alabaster obelisk! Alabaster is a soft mineral, a fine-grained type of gypsum deposited from both fresh- and saltwater sources, and therefore found around the world.

Alabaster has most often been used for carving sculptures. In the ancient Near East alabaster was plentiful and so was used often to make carved statues. These statues were often particularly important cultural and religious objects. Later in the European Middle Ages the carving of alabaster was revived, often with the same religious and cultural significance.

For more information, visit:

• This artifact in the Karshner Digital Collections
• Artifact Worksheets you can use in your classroom or for homeschool
• How to carve marble, limestone, soapstone and alabaster sculptures
• Egyptian Alabaster
• The Truth about Alabaster
• A lobster