Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula.It is widely mined and is used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster, drywall and blackboard or sidewalk chalk. Alabaster, a fine-grained white or lightly tinted variety of gypsum, has been used for sculpture by many cultures including Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Ancient Rome, the Byzantine Empire, and the Nottingham alabasters of Medieval England. Gypsum also crystallizes as translucent crystals of selenite. It forms as an evaporite mineral and as a hydration product of anhydrite.

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness defines gypsum as hardness value 2 based on scratch hardness comparison.

The production of gypsum

Gypsum is a common mineral found in thick, extensive evaporite layers associated with sedimentary rocks. Gypsum is deposited from lake water, sea water, hot springs, volcanic steam and sulfate solutions in veins. Hydrothermal anhydrite in veins is often hydrated by groundwater to form gypsum when exposed near the surface. It is usually associated with the minerals halite and sulfur. Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral. Pure gypsum is white, but other substances found as impurities may give local sediments a wide variety of colors.

The world’s largest gypsum producer is the United States. In the United States, gypsum deposits are distributed in 22 states, with a total of 69 mines. The largest production area is Fort Dodge, Iowa; followed by Canada; France leads the European gypsum production; and again Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain. China is rich in gypsum mineral resources. Gypsum minerals are produced in 23 provinces (regions) across the ry.

Gypsum is the main raw material for the production of gypsum cementitious materials and gypsum building products, and is also the retarder of Portland cement. After gypsum is calcined at 600-800°C, a small amount of lime and other catalysts are added and ground together to obtain anhydrite cement (also called King’s cement); after gypsum is calcined and ground at 900-1000°C, high-temperature calcined gypsum can be obtained . Products made from these two types of gypsum are stronger than building gypsum products, and the anhydrite cement has better heat insulation, and high-temperature calcined gypsum has better wear resistance and water resistance.

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