Description

The mineral name gypsum is so old that it is not known who originated its use. It was derived from the Greek word Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;ï¿ÂÂ&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¢Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¯Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¿Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;ÂÂ&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¯Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¿Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;ÂÂ&frac*2;GypsosÃï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;ï¿ÂÂ&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¢Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¯Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¿Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;ÂÂ&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¯Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;¿Ãï¿&frac*2;ï¿Â&frac*2;Ãï¿&frac*2;ÂÂ&frac*2; which means plaster. Gypsum is found in sedimentary rock formations in a crystalline form known as calcium sulfate dehydrate. Sulfates are compounds of one or more metals with oxygen and sulfur. The oxygen and sulfur join together to form the sulfate ion, SO**2. Technically, gypsum is hydrous calcium sulfate because it has water in its crystal structure, CaSO4.2H2O Gypsum is a light-density rock typically found in thick beds or layers, in relative abundance throughout the world. It can form very pretty, and sometimes extremely large, crystals. Gypsum is a soft mineral, the standard for hardness degree 2 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale. According to the nature of its impurities, gypsum can show various colors, ranging from white to brown, yellow, gray and pink.