Gypsum rock occurs naturally in the Earth.
Gypsum rock was first used by the Egyptians to construct the massive pyramids. Nowadays, the rock makes gypsum board which is used in home and commercial building construction. Gypsum rock is found all over the world, particularly in the Midwest and Eastern coast of the United States.
Chemical Properties
According to the website NationalGypsum, gypsum rock is a mineral composed of calcium sulfate, or calcium, sulfur and oxygen, combined with two molecules of water.
Construction Uses
A mineral with many uses, gypsum rock is most commonly used to make gypsum board, which is a lightweight and fire-resistant building product. Gypsum board is created by mining and quarrying gypsum rock, and then crushing and grinding it to remove any water that is chemically bound. Starch, water and other additives create a slurry, which is inserted between two sheets of paper to create the board. Another gypsum rock construction product, Plaster of Paris, is created when gypsum rock is crushed and drained of water.
Non-Construction Uses
While gypsum rock is most commonly used in construction, it appears commercially as well. Gypsum is a filler ingredient in food, with 28 pounds consumed yearly by the average person. Gypsum can also be used to condition soil, as alabaster in ornamental art, or as satin spar in various types of jewelry.
Deposit Locations
According to the website NationalGypsum, mines with gypsum rock can be found all over the world, with the major North American mines stretching from Mexico to Utah and from Texas to New York. The largest mine in the world, which is owned by the company National Gypsum, is located in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Byproduct Gypsum
Similar to gypsum rock, byproduct gypsum is a solid waste that can be used to make gypsum board. Byproduct gypsum is created when power companies remove sulfur dioxide from their coal-fire emissions. The waste, which would be discarded in a landfill if not recycled, creates synthetic gypsum board.
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