Gypsum

“ Here you see the passion-flower, with its curiously curved pistils; there an iris with its lanceolate leaves; and again, bunches of celery with stalks white and tender enough for a fairy’s dinner. There are occasional patches [Pg 291] of gypsum, tinged of a deep amber colour by the presence of iron. Through the whole length of the avenue there is no cessation of the wondrous work. The pale rock-blooms burst forth everywhere, crowding on each other until the brittle sprays cannot bear their weight, and they fall to the floor. ”

“ GYPSUM, a common mineral consisting of hydrous calcium sulphate, named from the Gr. γύψος, a word used by Theophrastus to denote not only the raw mineral but also the product of its calcination, which was employed in ancient times, as it still is, as a plaster. When crystallized, gypsum is often called selenite, the σεληνίτης of Dioscorides, so named from σελήνη, “the moon,” probably in allusion to the soft moon-like reflection of light from some of its faces, or, according to a legend, because it is found at night when the moon is on the increase. ”

“ I am informed also, that the same remark has been made by farmers in Montgomery county. Now it is not to be supposed, that the gypsum has changed its nature, or lost its virtue.—But the earth, being exhausted of those particles which are favourable to the growth of clover, no longer offers to the gypsum the same matter to act upon. That the matter, necessary for the formation of a particular plant, may be exhausted, while the same earth suffices for the vigorous production of other plants, is proved by daily experience ”

“ For about ten years the average yearly production of gypsum in the United States has been approximately 2,500,000 tons, or about ten times that of the nearest foreign competitor (Canada) . New York, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio are the chief producers. In New York the rock gypsum (usually four to ten feet thick) lies between shale and limestone strata of Silurian age, and it is quarried from the central to the western part of the State. In Michigan the rock gypsum beds, commonly five to twenty feet thick, lie in Mississippian strata in the southern portion of the State. ”

“ Along the eastern front of the mountains, gypsum occurs in the Triassic Lykins Formation; in the Mountain Province, it is abundant in Pennsylvanian sedimentary rocks. Particularly high-quality Pennsylvanian gypsum is quarried at the town of Gypsum, west of Eagle.
The Colorado portion of the Paradox Basin, in the Plateau Province, contains immense deposits of Pennsylvanian gypsum. Here, rocks near the surface have been pushed up into sharp northwest-trending faulted anticlines by upward movements of gypsum and salt from depths of several thousands of feet. ”

“ The substance of those in the immediate neighbourhood I supposed to be gypsum from its translucency, and brilliant fracture, but it effervesces with acids, and is therefore I suppose, a carbonate of lime. The structure seems to be somewhat fibrous. There is, however, also a quantity of gypsum on the road. Higher up, the mountains offer another series of mural precipices, equally vertical, and of perhaps about the same height, which may be from one to two hundred feet. These appear to be of a conglomerate, but I did not approach near enough to any one of them to be certain of the fact. ”

“ Of all substances, gypsum is that of whose action we know the least. The prodigious effect it has on the whole race of trefoils, (clover, &c.) cannot be explained by any mechanical agency—the quantity applied being so small—or by any stimulating power—since gypsum, raw or roasted, has nearly the same effect ”

“ The gypsum exists in a moist soil, not greatly elevated, during certain winds above the lake. Pits had been dug by persons visiting the locality for commercial purposes. It occurs in granular lumps of a gray color, as also in foliated and fibrous masses, white, gray, chestnut color, or sometimes red. No difficulty was encountered in procuring as many specimens as were required. This group of islands is noticeable, also, for the large boulder masses of hornblende and granite rock, which are found imbedded in, or lying [66] on the surface, along with fragments of breccia, quartz, &c. ”

“ Gypsum is known to exist in large quantities in Mexico, South America, Africa, India, Australia, and China.—The origin of the great masses and strata of gypsum found in many countries has been a subject of much discussion. ”

“ What is the nature of gypsum, terra alba, or white earth? Gypsum, or sulphate of lime, is a white, crystalline mineral, found in the excrement of most animals. Hence gypsum is extensively used as an artificial manure. It is found in peat soil, also used for manure, and is a natural production, occurring in rocky masses, under various names, as alabaster, anhydrate, and selenite.
The natural gypsum, or plaster of commerce, consists of
Plaster was used as a fertilizer by the early Roman and British farmers. ”

“ The Gypsum is nothing more than a Selenite, less elegant than the Rhomboidal or plated Kinds. Those resemble the foliaceous Talcs; and these the softer of the Alabasters. We may always by Glasses distinguish the flaky Texture of the Selenite in the Gypsum; and those unerring Tests by Weight and Firmness, give convincing Proofs of the Truth. Gypsum is lighter as well as softer than Spar; but differs very little in either of these Qualities from the pure Selenite: To which we may add the Effect of Fire ”

“ It is insoluble in acids, and does not effervesce like chalk and dolomite, because it does not contain carbonic acid gas, or fixed air, the lime being already combined with sulphuric acid, for which it has a stronger affinity than for any other. Anhydrous gypsum is a rare variety, into which water does not enter as a component part. Gypseous marl is a mixture of gypsum and marl. Alabaster is a granular and compact variety of gypsum found in masses large enough to be used in sculpture and architecture. ”

“ In the central portion, which belongs to the Triassic formation, magnesian limestone, ferruginous sandstone and gypsum are representative rocks. Gypsum (in beautiful crystalline form) is found in an almost continuous bed across the state running north-east and south-west with three principal areas, the northern in Marshall county, the central in Dickinson and Saline counties, and the southern (the heaviest, being 3 to 40 ft. thick) in Barber and Comanche counties. The product in 1908 was valued at $281,339. ”

“ Crystals of gypsum, when occurring in clay, may enclose much muddy matter; in other cases a large proportion of sand may be mechanically entangled in the crystals without serious disturbance of form; whilst certain crystals occasionally enclose cavities with liquid and an air-bubble. Gypsum not infrequently becomes fibrous. This variety occurs in veins, often running through gypseous marls, with the fibres disposed at right angles to the direction of the vein. ”

“ The most common species in our gypsum quarries (An. commune) , is an animal of the height of a boar, but much more elongated, and furnished with a very long and very thick tail, so that altogether it has nearly the proportion of the otter, but larger. It is probable that it was well fitted for swimming, and frequented the lakes in the bottom of which its bones have been incrusted by the gypsum which was deposited there. ”

“ The gypsum quarried there for the manufacture of plaster of Paris occurs as a granular crystalline rock, and, together with the associated marls, contains land and fluviatile shells, together with the bones and skeletons of birds and quadrupeds. Several land-plants are also met with, among which are fine specimens of the fan-palm or palmetto tribe (Flabellaria) . The remains also of fresh-water fish, and of crocodiles and other reptiles, occur in the gypsum. The skeletons of mammalia are usually isolated, often entire, the most delicate extremities being preserved ”

“ To the third class belong chalk and gypsum; which, in so far as regards their decomposition by chemical means, are of a similar nature with compact limestone; but possessing a much slighter cohesion of parts, are more liable to be broken down by mechanical means. Water also dissolves gypsum, and thus assists in its disintegration. The soil arising from these rocks resembles that produced by compact limestone, which explains the want of fertility, observable in certain gypseous tracts of the North of Germany, and in the chalk districts of France. ”

“ If, then, we understand the passage as meaning that Lysistratus modeled a likeness in gypsum, and then improved it or finished it in wax which he spread over the gypsum, the statement is quite intelligible, and not a word is warped from its correct significance. If we adopt the other interpretation, however, we must understand “imaginem gypso expressit” to mean that he made a mould in gypsum, contrary to the direct force of the words; and with wax poured into that mould (making “formam” equivalent to “imaginem,” and referring to it) he emended or improved—something. ”

“ Cyclas gibbosa, and another species.
The subjacent strata (marls, with fishes, plants, &c.) run out into a terrace, beneath which gypsum is extensively worked. "In this upper gypsum fossil insects occur exclusively in a finely laminated bed of 2 inches in thickness: still lower are two other ranges of gypsum, the upper one of which alone is worked; the marls associated therewith contain nearly as great a quantity of fishes as those of the upper calcareous zone. ”

“ In this country gypsum is a great source of wealth, wherever soils are sensible to its effects. It has tended much to equalize the value of lands, by imparting an artificial fertility to those naturally more sterile, and that at a small expense.—But gypsum alone is by no means a sufficient source of dependence as a manure for keeping lands in the improved condition that is necessary for raising the best crops, and of course deriving the greatest profits. The farmer should attend also to making the most of such other manures as come conveniently within his reach. ”

“ The degree of saline concentration which the precipitation of gypsum indicates, would be highly inimical to life. The presence of gypsum helps to account for the absence of life, and the absence of life accounts for the brilliant color. ”

“ It forms a weaker sort of lime. As this substance, however, is hardly to be found in this country, it will be unnecessary further to speak of this manure.
Gypsum, (sulphate of lime) is a most powerful stimulant to the growth of many crops in all dry soils in this country, but with the following exceptions: it has no sensible effect on lands newly cleared, on those in the vicinity of the ocean, nor on those which have been completely exhausted by severe cropping. In soils of this latter description, some pabulous matter must be given them for the gypsum to digest or act upon ”

“ But as the excess of even a good thing may be pernicious, so may it be with gypsum. That it promotes the growth of many vegetables, and of clover in particular, is certain; though its mode of operation does not seem to be clearly understood. An increased quantity of grass, will support an increased quantity of stock, from which will proceed an increased quantity of manure, and that should be considered as the great end of gypsum. Not that great advantages may not be derived from ploughing in the green clover. ”

“ A pair of laminae of marl, gypsum and salt no doubt represent the deposits of one year, so that by counting these an accurate estimate of the length of time occupied in their formation could be obtained.
At several horizons in the Dead Sea formation large con- cretions of gypsum are forming, with long crystals of gypsum radiating from the centre. In these gypsum horizons nodules and also thin bands of light flour sulphur occur. Sulphur also forms coatings on the gypsum. One of these horizons is about forty feet above the Jordan, and a second about 1 20 feet above. ”

“ These sands are very rich in shells. The siliceous limestone, or lower travertin, is a compact siliceous limestone extending over a wide area, and resembles a precipitate from mineral waters. The gypseous formation consists of a long series of marly and argillaceous beds, of a greyish, green, or white colour, in the intervals between which a thick deposit of gypsum, or sulphate of lime, is intercalated. This gypsum bed is found in its greatest thickness in France at Montmartre and Pantin near Paris. ”

“ CX. Earths of some kinds are also used about Cloaths, particularly the Cimolian. The Tymphaican is also used for the same Purposes; and the People of Tymphæa and the neighbouring Places call it [103] Gypsum.
CXI. Gypsum is produced in great Quantities in the Island of Cyprus [104] , where it lies open, and easy to be discovered, and come at, the Workmen having but very little Earth to take away before they get it. In Phœnicia and [105] Syria also they have a Gypsum, which they make by burning certain Stones. They have a Gypsum in Thuria too, in great Plenty ”

“ Sugar has a tendency to increase the fatty and warming matter of the system; gypsum, or terra alba, to destroy it.
Gypsum is used in confectionery without being calcined. [Pg 623] Calcined plaster, after being wet, readily “sets,” or hardens. Heating gypsum deprives it of the percentage of water, when it is known to commerce as “plaster of Paris.” It is cheap as manure; hence it is used instead of sugar.
Terra alba taken into the system absorbs the moisture essential to health, and disposes the child to weakness of the joints and spinal column, to rickets, marasmus, and consumption. ”