2020/11/5

Engineering
Geology

GYPSUM ROAK

DR. JAMAL ALI

STU. ABDULLAH NZAR
 Acknowledgements
In the name of Allah, the gracious the merciful

First and foremost, my great gratitude

towards Dr.Jamal Ali as the subject doctor
of geology engineering and the university
dean of polytechnic in Duhok , thanks to
his all efforts for conveying the subject to
us. Also my gratitude toward the university
president Dr. Adnan mohsin for his hard
work for developing our university in any
shape of form. This material have been
allocated by Dr.Jamal Ali , I can say I have
gained lots of Knowledge from it , thank
you so much doctor . Thanks to the
honored photographer Auther for his unique
photos which have been utilized in the
assignment.

1
List of Contents

Page
3
1 Summary
4
2 Introduction

5
3 Main chapter one
5
3.1 How Is Gypsum Formed?
3.2 Elements that Form Gypsum 5

3.3 When Was It Formed? 6

3.4 Where Does It Form? 6
3.5 Physical Properties of Gypsum 7

4 Main chapter two 8

4.1 Gypsum industry 8

9
4.2 Uses of Gypsum

5 Main chapter three 10

5.1 Same forms of gypsum 10-12

6 References 13

2
Summary
Gypsum is a mineral found in crystal as well as masses called
gypsum rock. It is a very soft mineral and it can form very
pretty, and sometimes extremely large colored crystals.
Massive gypsum rock forms within layers of sedimentary rock,
typically found in thick beds or layers. It forms in lagoons
where ocean waters high in calcium and sulfate content can
slowly evaporate and be regularly replenished with new
sources of water. The result is the accumulation of large beds
of sedimentary gypsum. Gypsum is commonly associated with
rock salt and sulfur deposits. It is processed and used as
prefabricated wallboard or as industrial or building plaster, used
in cement manufacture, agriculture and other uses.

3
Introduction
 Gypsum is an mineral most commonly found in layered
sedimentary deposits in association with halite, anhydrite,
sulfur, calcite, and dolomite.
 Gypsum formula Calcium Sulphate Di-hydrate (CaSO4•2H2O) .
 is very similar to Anhydrite (CaSO4). The chemical difference is
that gypsum contains two waters and anhydrite is without
water.
 Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral.
 Gypsum is a mineral found in crystal as well as masses called
gypsum rock.
 It is a very soft mineral and it can form very pretty, and
sometimes extremely large colored crystals.
 Massive gypsum rock forms within layers of sedimentary rock,
typically found in thick beds or layers.
 It forms in lagoons where ocean waters high in calcium and
sulfate content can slowly evaporate and be regularly
replenished with new sources of water. The result is the
accumulation of large beds of sedimentary gypsum.
 Gypsum is commonly associated with rock salt and sulfur
deposits. It is processed and used as prefabricated wallboard or
as industrial or building plaster, used in cement manufacture,
agriculture and other uses.

4
Chapter 1

3.1 How Is Gypsum Formed?

It forms in lagoons where ocean waters high in calcium and sulfate
content can slowly evaporate and be regularly replenished with
new sources of water. The result is the accumulation of large
beds of sedimentary gypsum

3.2 Elements that Form Gypsum

Gypsum is made up of oxygen, sulfur, calcium and water. As
evaporation occurs the sulfur is not protected by the water and
oxygen contacts sulfur bonding with it to form a sulfate (SO4 2).
The sulfate then bonds with calcium (Ca) and water (H2O) to
create gypsum.

5
3.3 When Was It Formed?
Sedimentary gypsum beds were formed during prehistoric
periods in earth’s history. The vast beds in Michigan were
formed over a period of 15-20 million years and stopped
forming 390 million years ago according to Charles Davis
in his book, “Readings from the Geography of Michigan”.

Gypsum formation did not stop in prehistoric times.

Gypsum crystals still form when minerals crystallize as
water evaporates. Gypsum is also found as a by-product
of scrubbing sulfur from fossil fuels.

3.4 Where Does It Form?

Gypsum can form anywhere where the right combination of mineral
elements occurs and evaporation happens. It occurs as clumps of
crystals or in thick beds. Gypsum beds were formed in shallow sea
basins. These geologic areas are called evaporation basins because
as the climate changed from tropic to arid the water evaporated
concentrating the minerals it held. Gypsum formations can also occur
in tidal flats along coastlines, in lagoons, deltas, hot springs, volcanic
areas, desert water tables and even on plant roots.

6
3.5 Physical Properties of Gypsum

Physical Properties of Gypsum

Chemical
Sulfate
Classification

Clear, colorless, white, gray, yellow, red,

Color
brown

Streak White

Luster Vitreous, silky, sugary

Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent

Cleavage Perfect
Mohs
2
Hardness
Specific
2.3
Gravity
Diagnostic
Cleavage, specific gravity, low hardness
Properties
Chemical
Hydrous calcium sulfate, CaSO4.2H2O
Composition
Crystal
Monoclinic
System

Used to manufacture dry wall, plaster, joint

Uses
compound. An agricultural soil treatment.

Table 1 :Physical Properties of Gypsum

7
chapter 2

4.1 Gypsum industry

1. The first step in making gypsum is cracking

Gypsum is extracted from the ground in the form of large rocks that
are broken down to be turned into small pieces by crushers, then the
small pieces are ground and crushed into a fine powder, and this
process is called calcining.

2. The second step in making gypsum is extraction

This is done by washing plaster, sifting it, separating impurities, and
finally drying.

3. The third step in gypsum making is roasting

Because every 45 kg of gypsum contains 9.5 kg of water chemically
bound, the gypsum powder is heated at a temperature of 177 ° C
until three quarters of the water chemically bound to the gypsum
powder is removed.

4. The fourth step in gypsum making is milling

After the gypsum is roasted, it is sent to the mill to grind to obtain
the desired smoothness

5. The fifth step in making gypsum is packing

Ground gypsum tests are done on it to determine the duration of
hardening and purity, the type of impurities and the force of crushing
and bending until it is classified based on the results of these tests.
After performing the necessary tests, the gypsum is transferred to
the warehouses to start the process of filling the gypsum into bags.

8
4.2 Uses of Gypsum

Gypsum is used in many different areas of life:

1. Gypsum is used in decoration, finishing and building works.

2. Gypsum is used in the manufacture of cement.
3. Gypsum is used as soil fertilizer.
4. Gypsum is used to control the soil temperature.
5. Gypsum is used in the process of making glass.
6. Gypsum is used in the manufacture of chalk used in educational
boards.
7. Gypsum is used as a cast to fix the broken ends in the human
body until complete recovery and removal of the cast.

9
chapter 3

5.1 Same forms of gypsum

Fig. 1. Selenite gypsum removed from soil in Cumberland Caverns, Tennessee.

(Photo by the author.)

Fig. 2. Dentate gypsum on bedrock pendant, Cumberland Caverns, Tennessee.

(Photo by the author.)

10
Fig. 3. Gypsum needles, Cumberland Caverns, Tennessee.
(Photo by the author.)

Fig. 4. Gypsum flowers, Cumberland Caverns, Tennessee.

(Photo by the author.)

11
Fig. 5. Angel hair gypsum, Cumberland Caverns, Tennessee.
(Photo by the author.)

12
 References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/gypsum

2. https://www.hunker.com/13406932/how-is-gypsum-formed

3. https://geology.com/minerals/gypsum.shtml

4. https://www.business4lions.com/2020/02/Gypsum.html

5. https://flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz/rocks_minerals/minerals/gypsum.html

13