GYPSUM

• An important
construction
material that
has been used
for thousands
of years
• Gypsum is an evaporite mineral
• commonly found in layered sedimentary
deposits.
• Association with
halite,anhydrite, sulfur, calcite, and dolomite.

• Gypsum contains two waters and anhydrite is

without water. Gypsum is the most common
sulfate mineral.
 Physical Properties of Gypsum
Chemical Classification Sulfate
Color Clear, colorless, white, gray, yellow, red,
brown
Streak White
Luster Vitreous, silky, sugary
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Cleavage Perfect
Mohs Hardness 2
Specific Gravity 2.3
Diagnostic Properties Cleavage, specific gravity, low hardness
Chemical Composition Hydrous calcium sulfate, CaSO4.2H2O
Crystal System Monoclinic
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.
What Causes Formation?

• Gypsum forms whenever evaporation

crystallizes the necessary minerals.
• Gypsum can also be formed diagenetically by
oxidation.
• This chemical reaction occurs when oxidation
of existing sediments causes gypsum to form
and replace other minerals in the sediments.
 GYPSUM IN INDIA
• In India, gypsum mining is mainly carried out
in the state of Rajasthan, which contributes
about 99% of the total production; the
remaining 1% is contributed by Jammu and
Kashmir Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
 State/District No.of mines

India 33
• Public sector 32
• Private sector 1
Gujarat 1
• Kuchchh 1
Jammu & Kashmir 3
•Doda 1
•Ramban 1
• Baramula 1
Rajasthan 30
Barmer 2
Bikaner 9
Sri Ganganagar 12
Hanumangarh 2
Jaisalmer 3
Jalore 1
Nagaur 1
Tamil -
Erode -
Perambalur
RAJASTHAN
• The total recoverable reserves of all grades of
gypsum in Rajasthan are of the order of 105.5
million tonnes.
• The main deposits occur in the Tertiary clays and
shales of Jodhpur, Nagaur and Bikaner. Jaisalmer,
Barmer, Chum, Pali and Ganganagar also have
some gypsum bearing rocks.
JAMMU AND KASHMIR
• Estimated reserves of 112.9 million tonnes.
• The main deposits occur in Baramula and Doda
districts and in Uri
 TAMIL NADU
• most of its deposits in Tiruchirapalli district
between Chittali in the north and Tappay and
Periyakurukhai in the south.
• Some gypsum is also reported from Coimbatore
district.
• Minor occurrences are found along the coast and
in some salt pans in Nellai Kattabomman,
Ramanathapuram, South Arcot Vallalar and
Chingleput districts.
UTTARANCHAL
• the main deposits of gypsum are found in Tehri
Garhwal, Dehra Dun and Musoorie.
Gujarat
• total reserves of 10.3 million tonnes mainly
confined to Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Jamnagar and
Kuchchh districts.
• Minor deposits occur in Kheda and Surendranagar
districts.
 Some gypsum is also produced in Andhra Pradesh,
(Nellore, Guntur, Prakasam), Himachal Pradesh
(Spiti, Sirmur, Chamba), Karnataka (Gulbarga) and
Madhya Pradesh (Shahdol).
 Marine gypsum is recovered from salt pans during
the processing for common salt in coastal regions
particularly of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
 Uses of Gypsum
Gypsum uses include:
1) manufacture of wallboard
2) cement
3) plaster of Paris
4) soil conditioning
5) A hardening retarder in portland cement.
6) "satin spar" and "alabaster" are used for a
variety of ornamental purposes
 ASBESTOS

Asbestos has
been classified
as a known
human
carcinogen
• Asbestos is the name given to six minerals that occur
naturally in the environment
• bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin, durable
threads for use in commercial and industrial applications.
• Asbestos minerals are silicate compounds.
• Asbestos minerals are divided into two major groups:
Serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos.
• Serpentine asbestos includes the mineral chrysotile,
which has long, curly fibers that can be woven.
• Amphibole asbestos includes the minerals actinolite,
tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and amosite.
• Amphibole asbestos has straight, needle-like fibers that
are more brittle than those of serpentine asbestos and
are more limited in their ability to be fabricated
 GEOLOGICAL OCCURRENCE
• Asbestos is most commonly found in three rock types:
serpentinites, altered ultramafic rocks, and some mafic
rocks.
• Other rock types known to host asbestos include
metamorphosed dolostones, metamorphosed iron
formations, carbonatites, and alkalic intrusions.
• Contributing to asbestos formation is the faulting and
fracturing of these rocks with increased temperatures,
pressures, and the presence of water.
• The amount of asbestos or asbestiform minerals in these
rocks can range in size from commercial-grade ore bodies
to thin impure veinlets or low-grade occurrences.
 PROPERTIES
• High Tensile Strength — Asbestos fibers have a higher
tensile strength than steel, meaning that asbestos-
infused cables have a higher pressure threshold before
they break
• Non-Flammable — Asbestos cannot be burned or
melted, even at extremely high temperatures up to
2750° C
• Thermal Stability and Thermal Resistance — Asbestos
is a great insulator, reducing temperature changes
while shielding objects from high temperatures
• Electrical Resistance — Asbestos will not carry an
electrical current nor will an electrical current cause
the material to rapidly elevate in temperature
• Chemical Resistance — Asbestos is non-reactive to a
wide range of caustic or oxidizing chemicals
 ASBESTOS IN INDIA
Two states of Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh
produce almost the whole of asbestos of
India.
Rajasthan is the largest producer.
• This state produce 94 per cent of the total
production of India.
• Important occurrences are known in Udaipur,
Dungarpur, Alwar, Ajmer and Pali districts.
 Andhra Pradesh, asbestos of fine quality occurs
in Pulivendla taluk of Cuddapah district.
• There are several occurrences between Chitravati
and Papaghani rivers.
• The 15 km long zone between Lopatanuthula and
Brahamnapalle is most promising.
 In Karnataka, the main deposits occur in Hassan,
Mandya, Shimoga, Mysore and Chikmaglur
districts.
 In addition to the above mentioned major
producers, some asbestos is produced in
Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil
Nadu, Gujarat, Uttaranchal and Nagaland also.
 USES
Asbestos has found great commercial value due to its
fibrous structure.
• It is used for making fire-proof cloth, rope, paper,
millboard, sheeting, belt, paint, etc. and for
manufacturing fire proof safes, insulators, felts, etc.
• It is also used in making aprons, gloves, curtains, brake-
linings in automobiles and insulating mats.
• Asbestos cement products like sheets, slates, pipes and
tiles are used for building purposes.
• When asbestos is brittle, it is made into filter pads for
filtering acids, organic liquids and other chemicals.
• Mixed with magnesia, it is used for making ‘magnesia
bricks’ used for heat insulation.