Gypsite

Gypsite is a mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4 2H2O) found in sedimentary rocks.

It is a very common mineral and is used in the manufacture of plaster and other construction products. Gypsite is a very soft mineral, with a hardness of 1.5 to 2 on the Mohs scale.

It is soluble in water and easily dissolves in dilute hydrochloric acid.

Gypsite is also used in agriculture as a fertilizer and to correct soil acidity.


Gypsite is mined from open pit or underground mines. In open pit mines, heavy machinery is used to extract gypsum from the earth. In underground mines, gypsite is excavated with hand tools and transported to the surface in minecarts.


Gypsite is found in sedimentary rocks and may be associated with other minerals such as calcite.

Plaster is made from gypsum through a calcination process. Gypsite is heated to a temperature between 150 and 180 degrees Celsius to remove the water it contains and convert it into calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO4 1/2H2O), also known as plaster of Paris.


The main world producers of gypsum are the United States, China, Canada, France, Iran, Japan, Thailand, Mexico and Spain.