Gypsum

Gypsum is a calcium sulphate mineral, and is one of the most widely used minerals in the world. It is mainly used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster products, blackboard or sidewalk chalk, wallboard, in agriculture, and cement production. Gypsum is deposited from sea water and from lakes, as well as in hot springs, from volcanic vapors, and sulfate solutions in veins. Gypsum can form extensive evaporite beds in sedimentary basins. Demand for gypsum is principally influenced by agriculture and construction industry activities.