Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Gypsum
US
GS
Eur
ico
Zim
bre
s F
GE
L/U
ER
JG
NU
by-nc: co
balt1
23
US
GS
by-nc-n
d: skyla
rprimm
Gypsum precipitates (white) at a fumarole on the island of Vulcano in Italy.
© J
ürg
Ale
an
/ S
tro
mb
oli
onl
ine
by-nc-n
d: S
am
ura
iCa
tJB
Gypsum is one of the salts left when saline
water evaporates from a lake or sea.
Gypsum in caves can form needle-like crystals that radiate from clusters on the cave floor.W
ind
Cav
e/N
PS
by-nc-n
d: S
am
ura
iCa
tJB
The mountains around White Sands National Monument contain gypsum-rich limestone, which you can see as the light-colored rock in the mountains.
NP
S/
Wh
ite S
an
ds
Na
tiona
l Mon
um
en
t
Over a long period of time this has formed piles of gypsum sand, or dunes, in what we now call White Sands National Monument.
Rain dissolves the gypsum in the mountains, and the water carries it into the closed basin lake below. As the lake evaporates, gypsum crystals form and then get blown about and crushed by the wind.
by-nc: T
he H
orro
rb
y-nc
-nd
: Sa
mu
raiC
atJ
B
Stele of Ushumgal, Early Dynastic I; 2900–2600 B.C.; Mesopotamia, Umma (modern Jokha) (?); Purchase, Funds from various donors, 1958 (58.29); www.metmuseum.org
Alabaster (pure gypsum)is easy to carve.
Head of a man, 3rd–4th century; Southwestern Arabia; Alabaster (gypsum); H. 9 7/16 in. (24 cm); Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Spear Jr. Gift, 1982 (1982.317.1); www.metmuseum.org
Many cultures carve alabaster.
Min
istr
y of
Cu
lture
and
Sp
orts
of G
ua
tem
ala
pu
blic
do
ma
inb
y-nc-nd
: mike
nl
pu
blic do
ma
in
by-nc-n
d: Je
hsu
k
Gypsum is extremely useful in
construction.
Ground gypsum and vermiculite (mica) are pressed into inch-think sheets of wallboard,also known as sheetrock or drywall.
US
GS
by-nc-n
d: S
tef N
ob
lep
ubl
ic d
om
ain
by-nc-sa
: Vin
cent M
a
by-nc-n
d: m
r.enig
ma
by-
nc-n
d: G
ary
an
d K
rist
ieb
y-nc
: lu
cylo
uw
ho
Both wallboard and joint compound are made of gypsum. U
SG
S
by-nc-sa
: pw
ilnyc
by-nc: Q
uasim
on
do
GN
U
Plaster, made of gypsum, is a sculpting and a molding material.
CV
C / A
rchitect o
f the C
apito
lby-
nc-n
d:
Ha
ylst
orm
's H
ea
d
Plaster casts of gypsum are often made of teeth before dental work is done.
Copper dental mold (right) and plaster cast (left).
pu
blic
do
ma
inA
lcatraz Isla
nd
/US
PS
/Do
Ib
y-nc-sa: little
_h
edg
eh
og
Plaster casts are made from Plaster of Paris (gypsum that has been heated).
by-
nc-n
d: k
de
n60
4b
y-nc: Harry R
icha
rdsb
y-sa: sch
wa
23
Gypsum can be used as a conditioner to improve soil: this farmer uses processed sheetrock scraps from building construction. O
akri
dg
e N
atio
na
l Lab
ora
tory
OS
HA
TI/D
oLb
y: le
igh
bla
cka
ll
Gypsum is added to concrete as an admixture before it is poured.
by: tu
pp
us
by-nc: a
rimo
ore
by-nc-n
d: te
lsky
GN
U
pu
blic
do
ma
in
Gypsum is a filler in paper, chalk, paint, and toothpaste.
by-nc: L
eo R
eyno
lds
by-
nc-n
d: R
80
ob
y-nc-nd
: Rya
n Oza
wa
by-
nd:
Ma
tt M
cGe
e
While searching for sulfur deposits, scientists found oil.
Natural oil and gas deposits associated with gypsum rock units can also hold large volumes of hydrogen sulfide gas. Within the past few decades, these gas deposits have replaced the mineral sulfur as our main source of the element.
by-nc-sa
: vph
illb
y-nc
-nd
: Sa
mu
raiC
atJ
B by-nc-n
d: S
am
ura
iCa
tJB
GN
U
Gypsum
US
GS
Eur
ico
Zim
bre
s F
GE
L/U
ER
JG
NU
by-nc: co
balt1
23
US
GS
by-nc-n
d: skyla
rprimm
media rights
Many of the photos in this presentation were obtained through Flickr and Wikipedia.
Funded by FIPSE and by the University of Minnesota. Compiled for Dr. Kent Kirkby, Department of Geology and Geophysics, by Kate Rosok, 2007. Each displayed image
retains its original media rights. For educational purposes only; not to be used commercially.
public domain (none)
© Copyright. All rights reserved
by-nc-sa
by
by-nd
by-sa
by-nc-ndCre
ativ
e C
omm
ons
Lice
nses
GNU GNU Free Documentation License
Our notation description
