by-nc-nd: skylarprimm USGS GNU

by-nc: cobalt123
Gypsum
USGS Eurico Zimbres FGEL/UERJ
 by-nc-nd: SamuraiCatJB
Gypsum precipitates (white)
at a fumarole on the island
of Vulcano in Italy.
Jrg Alean / Stromboli online

by-nc-nd: SamuraiCatJB
Gypsum in
caves can form
needle-like Gypsum is one of the
crystals that salts left when saline
Wind Cave/NPS

radiate from water evaporates

clusters on the from a lake or sea.
cave floor.
 NPS/ White Sands National Monument

The mountains around White Sands National

Monument contain gypsum-rich limestone,
which you can see as the light-colored rock in
the mountains.

Rain dissolves the gypsum in the mountains,

by-nc: The Horror

and the water carries it into the closed basin
lake below. As the lake evaporates, gypsum
crystals form and then get blown about and
crushed by the wind.

Over a long period of time this

has formed piles of gypsum
by-nc-nd: SamuraiCatJB

sand, or dunes, in what we now

call White Sands National
Monument.
 Alabaster (pure gypsum)
is easy to carve.

Stele of Ushumgal, Early Dynastic I; 29002600 B.C.;

Mesopotamia, Umma (modern Jokha) (?); Purchase, Funds
from various donors, 1958 (58.29); www.metmuseum.org
Head of a man, 3rd4th century; Southwestern Arabia; Alabaster (gypsum); H. 9
7/16 in. (24 cm); Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Spear Jr. Gift, 1982
(1982.317.1); www.metmuseum.org
public domain Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala

public domain
Many cultures
carve alabaster.

by-nc-nd: mike nl by-nc-nd: Jehsuk

 Ground gypsum and
vermiculite (mica) are pressed
into inch-think sheets of
wallboard,
also known
as sheetrock
or drywall.

by-nc-nd: Stef Noble

USGS

Gypsum is
extremely

by-nc-sa: Vincent Ma
useful in
construction.
public domain
by-nc-nd: Gary and Kristie

by-nc-nd: mr.enigma
by-nc: lucylouwho

Both wallboard and joint

compound are made of gypsum.

USGS
 CVC / Architect of the Capitol by-nc-sa: pwilnyc
sculpting and a molding material.
Plaster, made of gypsum, is a

by-nc: Quasimondo
by-nc-nd: Haylstorm's Head GNU
 by-nc-sa: little_hedgehog
public domain

Plaster casts of
gypsum are often
made of teeth before
dental work is done.

Alcatraz Island/USPS/DoI
Copper dental
mold (right)
and plaster
cast (left).
 by-sa: schwa23
by-nc-nd: kden604

Plaster casts are made

from Plaster of Paris
(gypsum that has been
heated).

by-nc: Harry Richards

 by: tuppus
Gypsum is
added to
concrete as
an admixture
by: leighblackall

OSHA TI/DoL
before it is
poured.

Gypsum can be used

as a conditioner to
Oakridge National Laboratory

improve soil: this

farmer uses

by-nc: arimoore
processed sheetrock
scraps from building
construction.
 by-nc-nd: telsky by-nc-nd: Ryan Ozawa
GNU

chalk, paint, and toothpaste.

Gypsum is a filler in paper,
by-nc: Leo Reynolds
public domain by-nc-nd: R80o by-nd: Matt McGee
 While searching for sulfur
deposits, scientists found
oil.

Natural oil and gas deposits

associated with gypsum
rock units can also hold
large volumes of hydrogen
sulfide gas. Within the past
few decades, these gas

by-nc-sa: vphill
deposits have replaced the
mineral sulfur as our main
source of the element.
by-nc-nd: SamuraiCatJB

by-nc-nd: SamuraiCatJB

GNU
by-nc-nd: skylarprimm USGS GNU
by-nc: cobalt123
Gypsum
USGS Eurico Zimbres FGEL/UERJ
 media rights
Our notation description
public domain (none)

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Copyright. All rights reserved

Many of the photos in this presentation were obtained through Flickr and Wikipedia.
Funded by FIPSE and by the University of Minnesota. Compiled for Dr. Kent Kirkby,
Department of Geology and Geophysics, by Kate Rosok, 2007. Each displayed image
retains its original media rights. For educational purposes only; not to be used commercially.