Gypsum
Identification, characteristics:
- Name: gypsum
- Chemical formula: CaSO4 . 2H2O
- Hardness: 1,5 - 2
- Density: 2,3 - 2,4 g.cm-3
- Color: colorless, white, grey, greenish, yellowish to brown
- Transparency: transparent to opaque
- Streak: white
- Gloss: glass, pearl
- Cleavage: perfect
- Morphology: tabular crystals, fibrous and leaf aggregates, grainy, lump
Other characteristics:
gypsum is very soft, soluble in acids, very slightly soluble in water
Use:
construction, chemical industry, glass industry, production of decorative objects