Gypsum is one of the most common minerals inworld. It is extracted from the earth's interior everywhere and widely used in industry, construction industry, medicine. In our article you will find a detailed description and photo of the mineral of gypsum. In addition, learn about the main areas of its application.
The name of the mineral, rock, andThe corresponding building material came from the Greek word gipsos ("chalk"). Humanity knows about the plaster from the most ancient times. He has not lost his popularity in our days.
Gypsum is a soft mineral. It, by the way, is a reference for the scale of relative hardness of Mohs, adopted as early as the beginning of the XIX century (hardness - 1.5-2.0).
According to the chemical composition, mineral gypsum is water calcium sulphate. Its structure includes elements such as calcium (Ca), sulfur (S) and oxygen (O). Let's describe the chemical composition of gypsum in more detail:
Genetic classification: monoclinic syngony.This mineral is distinguished by a layered crystalline structure and very perfect cleavage (it is possible to easily separate individual thin "petals" from it).
Here are the main physical characteristics of gypsum, by which it can be distinguished from other minerals:
Gypsum does not react with acids, howeveris dissolved in hydrogen chloride (HCl). It can have a different transparency, although a transparent mineral gypsum in nature is more common. When heated above 107 degrees Celsius, the gypsum turns into alabaster, which, in turn, hardens when wetted with water.
Gypsum is often confused with anhydrite. To distinguish between these two minerals can be by hardness (the second is much harder than the first).
Gypsum is a typical mineral of sedimentary origin.Most often, it is formed from natural aqueous solutions (for example, at the bottom of drying out seas and water bodies). Mineral gypsum can also accumulate in the weathering zones of native sulfur and sulphides. At the same time, so-called gypsum hats are formed - friable or compacted mountain masses contaminated with numerous impurities.
In sedimentary rocks, gypsum is often accompanied by sand, rock salt, anhydrite, sulfur, limestone, and iron. Neighborhood with the latter, as a rule, gives it a brownish tint.
In nature, gypsum occurs in the form of elongated andprism-shaped crystals. It also often forms dense scaly, fibrous or “tablet” aggregations. Often, gypsum is presented in the form of so-called roses or dovetail tails.
Geologists identify several dozen types of gypsum. The mineral can be fibrous, satin, dense, foamy, fine-grained, bone, cubic, etc.
The main types of gypsum include:
Selenite is a translucent silky mineralshine. The name comes from the Greek word selena - "moon". This mineral is indeed distinguished by a slightly bluish tinge. Selenite is used as an ornamental stone in the manufacture of budget jewelry.
Alabaster is a soft, easily destroyed material of white color, a product of gypsum dehydration. It is widely used in the production of garden sculptures, vases, table tops, stucco and other interior items.
"Marino glass" (girlish or ladies ice) - moreone kind of gypsum, a transparent mineral with a pearl or color shimmer. It features a unique lattice structure. In the old days, “Marino glass” was widely used in the design of icons and holy images.
Mineral gypsum is common in the earth's crust.everywhere. Its deposits are found in sediments of almost all periods of the geological history of the planet - from the Cambrian to the Quaternary. Gypsum deposits (as well as its anhydrite) in sedimentary rocks are in the form of lenses or layers with a thickness of 20-30 meters.
Every year, over 100 million tons of gypsum are extracted from the bowels of the earth. The world's largest manufacturers of valuable building materials are the USA, Iran, Canada, Turkey and Spain.
In Russia, the main deposits of this breed are concentratedon the western slopes of the Ural Mountains, in the Volga region and the Kama region, Tatarstan and the Krasnodar Territory. The main gypsum deposits in the country are Pavlovskoye, Novomoskovskoye, Skuratovskoye, Baskunchakskoye, Lazinskoye and Bolokhovskoye.
The scope of gypsum is extremely wide: construction, medicine, repair and decoration, agriculture, chemical industry.
Since the most ancient times of this mineralhe carved out sculptures and various home furnishings - vases, tabletops, balustrades, bas-reliefs, etc. Cornices, wall blocks and slabs (the so-called drywall) are often made from it. In the “raw” form, gypsum is also used in agriculture as a fertilizer. It is scattered on the fields and lands to normalize the acidity of the soil.
Where else use gypsum?The mineral is widely used in the paper and chemical industries for the production of cement, sulfuric acid, paints and glazes. In addition, anyone who has ever broken a leg or arm is familiar with another area of its use - medicine.
Building material gypsum is obtained from gypsum stone.To do this, the rock is fired in special furnaces, and then ground into fine powder. In the future, the resulting raw materials are widely used in construction and decoration.
In the industrial industry there is its own classification of gypsum - technical. So, there are the following varieties:
In addition, there is a separate marking of gypsum strength. According to her, there are 12 grades of gypsum - from G2 to G25.
In the construction and finishing works are also widelyapplied alabaster. Compared with gypsum, it is more durable and easy to process. However, alabaster is practically unsuitable without special additives, as it dries instantly.
It is important to note that even with a modern, so high level of development of science and industry, a worthy replacement for plaster has not yet been found.
Gypsum is not in vain used in medicine.It contributes to the accretion of bone tissue, eliminates excessive sweating, cures spinal tuberculosis. Gypsum is also used in cosmetology - as one of the components of toning masks.
Since ancient times, this mineral was considered a kindA “cure” for human pride, arrogance, and excessive arrogance. In magic, it is believed that a gypsum is able to tell a person how to act in a given situation. He promises good luck and material well-being. Astrologers advise to wear gypsum amulets to people born under the signs of Capricorn, Aries and Leo.
Such a beautiful name is called mineralunit, one of the varieties of gypsum. It really resembles the appearance of flower buds. Aggregates consist of crystalline lenticular splices-petals of a characteristic type. Color "roses of the desert" can be very diverse. It is determined by the color of the soil or sand in which it was formed.
A rather interesting mechanism is the formation of these"Roses". They are formed in particularly arid climatic conditions. When it rains occasionally in the desert, sand instantly absorbs moisture. Water interacts with particles of gypsum, which are washed away with it into the depths. Later, the water evaporates, and the gypsum crystallizes in the sand mass, creating the most unexpected and bizarre forms.
The “desert rose” is well known to the nomadic tribes of the African Sahara. In some cultures of this region, there is a tradition to give these stone flowers to their beloved on Valentine's Day.
