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Translucent gypsum crystals discovered in Qatar
© Qatar National Museum
Shaping the Qatar Peninsula (Quaternary)
Object Name: Gypsum Crystal
Period: Shaping the Qatar Peninsula (Quaternary)
Date: 2 million – 4,000 years ago
Provenance: Gift - 24/4/13 - Taylor, Norman
Dimensions: 25.4 mm (H) x 264 mm (W) x 124 mm (D) 332.4 g (Wt)
Medium: gypsum
Registration Number: QNM.2013.88.224
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The object is a piece of gypsum with the following characteristics: long, narrow, thick, translucent, light brown, and showing striations from the formation on the sides. It was formed during the Holocene period and collected from an area in west Qatar.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT QATAR
The waters of the Gulf rose and fell as glaciers retreated and advanced across the world. Sea levels stabilised around 4,000 years ago, defining the coastline of Qatar as we know it today.
Displayed here are desert roses. These clusters of minerals and sand grains occur when salty ground water evaporates in very dry conditions. They probably formed in the past 6,000 years, when Qatar became arid enough for them to develop. Desert roses inspired the architecture of the National Museum of Qatar
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