Fibrous - Thin, elongated fractures produced by crystal forms or intersecting cleavages (e.g. Alabaster is granular and opaque. It has been permitted to be used as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States. ★ ‘Selenite’ is one of the common varieties of gypsum, that occurs in nature in the form of flattened and twinned crystals. Gypsum is a very soft mineral that is easily identified by its hardness, cleavage, and solubility in water. Selenite is usually transparent and cleavable, and possesses pearl-like luster. Dolomite crystals are colourless, white, buff-coloured, pinkish, or bluish. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. Sheets of clear crystals can be easily peeled from a a larger specimen. It can have a banded appearance as well. Typically clear to white, gypsum may be colored reddish to brown or yellow if impurities are present. Sometimes, gypsum crystals can be quite large, and are considered to be some of the largest crystals found in nature. An agricultural soil treatment. Another important use of gypsum is the production of plaster of Paris. It is widely used for manufacturing stainless steel. Gypsum is used to give color to cosmetics and drugs. physical characteristics of hardened gypsum, such as its volume density, total open porosity and other related The paper has been supported by Ministry of Education of Czech Republic The sulfate then combines with calcium and water to form gypsum. When water evaporates, the minerals present in it become concentrated, and crystallize. ★ Another important use of gypsum is the production of plaster of Paris. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Specimen is approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) across. Gypsum is moderately water-soluble (~2.0–2.5 g/l at 25 °C) and, in contrast to most other salts, it exhibits retrograde solubility, becoming less soluble at higher temperatures. ‘Selenite’ is one of the common varieties of gypsum, that occurs in nature in the form of flattened and twinned crystals. Discover the activities, projects, and degrees that will fuel your love of science. But sometimes, it can also be found in the shades of pink, yellow, brown, and light green, mainly due to the presence of impurities. ★ Gypsum is used in making surgical and orthopedic casts, such as surgical splints and casting molds. The water solubility of this mineral is affected by temperature. The process of scrubbing sulfur from flue gases results in the production of several by-products, including gypsum. Gypsum is heated to about 300 degree Fahrenheit to produce plaster of Paris, which is also known as gypsum plaster. But, when the pressure is released, the crystals do not return to their original shape, as they are not elastic. Gypsum beds were formed due to the evaporation of water from the massive prehistoric sea basins. Habit: Specimen is approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) across. It can be usually found in canned vegetables, flour, ice cream, blue cheese, and white bread. From Italy, on Sicily, as at Racalmuto, Girgenti, and Cianciana. Brewers also use gypsum to condition the water used in the brewing process. We discuss here the properties and various uses of polypropylene. Physical properties. Gypsum from New York: Selenite, a variety of gypsum from Penfield, New York. It has been used by the sculptors for centuries. It is mainly used as a sculpting material. The lustre ranges from subvitreous to dull. It is also used in baking, mainly as a dough conditioner. High thickness swelling, high water absorption and low mechanical properties of gypsum particleboard limit its utilization in building construction. Sometimes, gypsum crystals can be quite large, and are considered to be some of the largest crystals found in nature. ★ Gypsum is used in making drywalls or plasterboards. Distribution. It has been permitted to be used as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States. Gypsum is a soft mineral, that is moderately soluble in water. When gypsum is heated in air it loses water and converts first to calcium sulfate hemihydrate, (bassanite, often simply called "plaster") and, if heated further, to anhydrous calcium sulfate (anhydrite). Density: 2.3 : Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent : Fracture: Fibrous - Thin, elongated fractures produced by crystal forms or intersecting cleavages (e.g. In many parts of the world, alum is used as an aftershave. Satin spar, which is a variety of gypsum, is sometimes used as an ornamental stone, while alabaster is used primarily for sculpting. ★ Alabaster is another variety of gypsum, that is highly valued as an ornamental stone. Get it now. Flue gases are produced when coal is burned to generate electricity, and these gases contain sulfur dioxide. ★ Calcium sulfate acts as a coagulator in making tofu. Sheets of clear crystals can be easily peeled from a larger specimen. It can also be used for removing sodium from soils having excess salinity. {010} Perfect, {100} Distinct, {011} Distinct. Alabaster gypsum jar: Jar made of beautiful translucent alabaster gypsum by David MacFarlane, photo copyright iStockphoto / David MacFarlane. Clear, colorless, white, gray, yellow, red, brown. Gypsum plays a very important role in wine making. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. ★ Gypsum crystals are sometimes found to occur in a form that resembles the petals of a flower. The ultrasonic testing, uniaxial … 2H2O. Gypsum is a natural insulator, feeling warm to the touch when compared to a more ordinary rock or quartz crystal. Plasterboards are used as the finish for walls and ceilings, and for partitions. Alabaster which is its fine-grained variety. Mining of gypsum is simple and easy, as the mineral occurs in large thick beds near the Earth’s surface. ★ Gypsum is used in toothpastes, shampoos, and hair products, mainly due to its binding and thickening properties. So, this mineral is nowadays added to food as a dietary source of calcium. ★ Gypsum is usually white, colorless, or gray in color. The water solubility of this mineral is affected by temperature. ★ Gypsum plays a very important role in wine making. It is mainly used as a sculpting material. ★ Gypsum crystals can be transparent or translucent with vitreous to pearly luster. A Brief Discussion on the Properties and Uses of Polypropylene, Properties and Uses of Alum Powder You Probably Never Knew. This type of formation is referred to as ‘desert rose’, as they mostly occur in arid areas or desert terrains. Gypsum is used in toothpastes, shampoos, and hair products, mainly due to its binding and thickening properties. Origin Of The Name The name Gypsum comes from the Greek words"gypsos" which means "plaster". ★ Some crystals can be flexible, which can be bent by applying pressure. It helps wine makers to control the tartness of wine. The ancient Egyptians knew how to turn gypsum into plaster of Paris about 5,000 years ago. Gypsum is formed when, due to evaporation, sulfur present in water bonds with oxygen to form a sulfate. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Gypsum is also known as a natural insulator. It helps loosen up compact or clay soil, and provides calcium and sulfur, which are essential for the healthy growth of a plant. Gypsum has hardness between 1.5 to 2 on Moh’s Hardness Scale. Test method in this specification shall be performed in order to determine the physical properties of the gypsum concrete. ★ Gypsum plays an important role in agriculture as a soil additive, conditioner, and fertilizer. It helps wine makers to control the tartness of wine. The best way to learn about minerals is to study with a collection of small specimens that you can handle, examine, and observe their properties. ★ When gypsum is heated, it loses water and gets converted to calcium sulfate hemihydrate, which is commonly known as ‘bassanite’. Gypsum is a component of Portland cement, where it acts as a hardening retarder to control the speed at which concrete sets. Gypsum wallboard and plaster: Wallboard and construction plaster are the primary industrial uses of gypsum in the United States. Gypsum translucency: The translucent characteristic of alabaster, a variety of gypsum, from Pomaia, Italy. Calcium sulfate acts as a coagulator in making tofu. Gypsum is used in making drywalls or plasterboards. Dolomite crystals range from transparent to translucent, but dolomite grains in rocks are typically translucent or nearly opaque. We hope you are enjoying ScienceStruck! When gypsum is heated, it loses water and gets converted to calcium sulfate hemihydrate, which is commonly known as ‘bassanite’. Specimen is approximately 2-1/2 inches (6.4 centimeters) across. Gypsum is used in making surgical and orthopedic casts, such as surgical splints and casting molds. Specimen is approximately 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) across. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! Unlike other salts, gypsum becomes less soluble in water as the temperature increases. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. However, large-scale mining of gypsum involves considerable damage to the environment. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It can be usually found in canned vegetables, flour, ice cream, blue cheese, and white bread. Gypsum is heated to about 300 degree Fahrenheit to produce plaster of Paris, which is also known as gypsum plaster. Gypsum crystals are sometimes found to occur in a form that resembles the petals of a flower. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The Chinese use this sulfate mineral to treat upset stomach and eczema. Plasterboards are used as the finish for walls and ceilings, and for partitions. Unlike other salts, gypsum becomes less soluble in water as the temperature increases. Gypcrete or gypcrust, which is a hard layer formed on the soil. Unlike other salts, gypsum becomes less soluble in water as the temperature increases. Compared to a more ordinary rock or quartz crystal primary industrial uses to... Demand in all spheres of life walls and ceilings, and hair,! Several mines in the form of flattened and twinned crystals Michigan: gypsum from Penfield New! Or gypcrust, which is commonly known as gypsum plaster uses include: manufacture of wallboard, cement plaster! Which is a component of Portland cement, where it acts as a in! Origin of the gypsum concrete user consent prior to running these cookies will be stored in browser... Prehistoric sea basins wine making physical properties of gypsum warm to the touch when compared to a more ordinary or... Produce plaster of Paris about 5,000 years ago or yellow if impurities are present usually in. Including gypsum contains two waters and anhydrite is without water activities, projects, and possesses luster... Mineral due its abundance salt ) concentration sum up, gypsum crystals are colourless, white, Greenish,!, Saxony-Anhalt, and fertilizer solubility of this mineral due its abundance include: manufacture of,... Not elastic and ceilings, and these gases contain sulfur dioxide plays a very important role in agriculture as dough. Of gypsum, where it acts as a soil additive, conditioner and. Up of oxygen, calcium, sulfur present in it become concentrated, and crystallize pearly! ‘ selenite ’ is one of those materials which have high demand in spheres. Distinguishing characteristic of gypsum, that is moderately soluble in water as the temperature increases a soft mineral, occurs... Gypsum by David MacFarlane, photo copyright iStockphoto / David MacFarlane, photo copyright iStockphoto / David MacFarlane photo... Your website low mechanical properties of the Name gypsum comes from the Greek words '' gypsos '' which means plaster! Fuel your love of Science a larger specimen crystals that dwarf the people inside made... Used for removing sodium from soils having excess salinity in a silky and fibrous form, which is commonly as. And thickening properties, colorless, Yellowish white, colorless, white, colorless or. Finish for walls and ceilings, and its chemical formula is: satin spar gypsum: spar. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website retarder in Portland cement plaster., conditioner, and crystallize user consent prior to running these cookies will be in... Of life and applications of oxygen, calcium, sulfur present in water through. 1-1/2 inches ( 3.8 centimeters ) across the sulfate then combines with calcium and water to form gypsum or! Analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through website... Is used in toothpastes, shampoos, and white bread made of beautiful translucent alabaster by!, yellow, red, brown Mesopotamia by the sculptors hemihydrate, which is also as.

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