GYPSUM

Gypsum is a rock like mineral commonly found in the earth’s crust, extracted,
processed and used by Man in construction or decoration in the form of plaster
and alabaster. During the time of the Pharaohs, Gypsum was used as mortar in
the construction of the Cheops Pyramid (3000 B.C.). Chemically it is CaSo4.2H2O
i.e. Calcium Sulphate Dihydrate. Impurities: MgO, Al2O3, Fe2O3, SiO2, CaCO3,
MgCO3.

1] Colour- transparent to white and can be of grey, green ,pink, blue and red
because of impurities.

2]OCCURRENCE OF GYPSUM: A common mineral, with thick and

extensive evaporite beds in association with sedimentary rocks. Gypsum is
deposited in lake and sea water. Hydrothermal anhydrite in veins is commonly
hydrated to gypsum by groundwater in near surface exposures. Often associated
with the minerals halite and sulfur.

3]PRODUCTION STEPS:

ØExcavating ØCrushing (~25 mm diameter) ØGrinding

ØHeating(calcining) ØCooling and Pulverizing ØMarketing in Bags

4]CALCINATION:

ØGypsum rock when heated to 100-190°C looses ¾ of its water. CaSO4.2H2O →

CaSO4.½H2O + 3/2 H2O Plaster of Paris This is low burning process and named
as INCOMPLETE CALCINATION. Ø When calcination is carried out at
temperatures above 190°C all water is removed. CaSO4.2H2O → CaSO4 + 2H2O
gypsum anhydrite This is high-burning process & COMPLETE CALCINATION.

5]Gypsum board:

commonly known as drywall, is the technical product name used by

manufacturers for a specific board with a gypsum core and a paper facing.
Gypsum board is the premier building material for wall, ceiling, and partition
systems in residential, institutional, and commercial structures and is designed
to provide a monolithic surface when joints and fastener heads are covered
with a joint treatment system.

6]PROPERTIES AND USES OF GYPSUM PLASTERS:

Plaster of Paris •Setting time ~5-20 min. •Used for sculpturing, ornamental
work, small repair works. Hard Wall Plaster •Setting time ~1 hr •Compressive
strength ~7 MPa •Admixtures result in increased plasticity & setting time &
reduced shrinkage •Can be used for plastering walls •Production of
prefabricated structural units •Masonry bricks & blocks

7]Flooring, Hard Finish Plaster •Setting time ~1-16 hrs •Compressive

strength > 7 MPa •Can be used for producing prefabricated units,
masonry bricks & blocks & flooring & pavement bricks & tiles.

ØGypsum often serves as a fire proofing material even though its strength is
destroyed by long continuous heat. It forms a powder covering the surface
which acts as an effective insulator.

ØGypsum products tend to disintegrate when exposed to moisture. Therefore,

they should not be used for exterior work & for moist interiors. (NON-
HYDRAULIC)

8]The Modern Use of Gypsum in Construction:

Plasterboard The modern use of Gypsum as a building material was discovered

in 1888 when the American Augustine Sackett invented a machine for producing
plasterboards (also known as wallboards and dry walls) composed of several
layers of paper with Gypsum in-between. In Eastern and Western Europe, there
are currently more than 200 factories producing plasterboards.

9]Building plaster:

• Gypsum plaster is used for walls and ceilings.

Ø Plaster blocks • Gypsum blocks are used for partitions and Gypsum
tiles for ceilings.
Ø Gypsum based self levelling screeds • Anhydrite or Alpha- Hemihydrates
are used in the production of self levelling floor screeds.

ØGypsum Fibreboards •Gypsum fibreboard is used for partitions and

lining of walls, ceilings, roofs and floors. Gypsum Fibreboard offers
good performance when it comes to impact resistance, sound insulation
and humidity resistance.

Sandstone
Sandstone was a popular building material from ancient times. It is relatively
soft, making it easy to carve. It has been widely used around the world in
constructing temples, homes, and other buildings. ... Some sandstones are
resistant to weathering, yet are easy to work.

Sandstone has been used for domestic construction and housewares

since prehistoric times, and continues to be used.
Sandstone was a popular building material from ancient times. It is
relatively soft, making it easy to carve. It has been widely used around
the world in constructing temples, homes, and other buildings. It has
also been used for artistic purposes to create ornamental fountains and
statues.
Some sandstones are resistant to weathering, yet are easy to work. This
makes sandstone a common building and paving material including
in asphalt concrete. However, some that have been used in the past,
such as the Collyhurst sandstone used in North West England, have
been found less resistant, necessitating repair and replacement in older
buildings. Because of the hardness of individual grains, uniformity of
grain size and friability of their structure, some types of sandstone are
excellent materials from which to make grindstones, for sharpening
blades and other implements. Non-friable sandstone can be used to
make grindstones for grinding grain, e.g., gritstone.
A type of pure quartz sandstone, orthoquartzite, with more of 90–95
percent of quartz, has been proposed for nomination to the Global
Heritage Stone Resource. In some regions of Argentina, the
orthoquartzite-stoned facade is one of the main features of the Mar del
Plata style bungalows.

Limestone
Limestone is a carbonate sedimentary rock that is often composed of the
skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral, foraminifera,
and molluscs. Its major materials are the minerals calcite and aragonite, which
are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). A closely related rock
is dolostone, which contains a high percentage of the mineral dolomite,
CaMg(CO3)2. In fact, in old USGS publications, dolostone was referred to
as magnesian limestone, a term now reserved for magnesium-deficient
dolostones or magnesium-rich limestones.

Travertine limestone terraces of Pamukkale, Turkey.

About 10% of sedimentary rocks are limestones. The solubility of limestone in
water and weak acid solutions leads to karst landscapes, in which water
erodes the limestone over thousands to millions of years. Most cave systems
are through limestone bedrock.
Limestone has numerous uses: as a building material, an essential component
of concrete (Portland cement), as aggregate for the base of roads, as white
pigment or filler in products such as toothpaste or paints, as a
chemical feedstock for the production of lime, as a soil conditioner, or as a
popular decorative addition to rock gardens.
The construction industry uses limestone for walls and floors on buildings.
From the ancient pyramids of Egypt to the contemporary architecture, this
natural stone have a high strength, durability and resistance to corrosion.
Their non-slip and heat-resistant properties are highly prized. In fact, the fine
grains of limestone rock allow density so it can last for centuries. It is used in
contemporary and traditional architecture for both residential and
commercial applications:
1. TILES: limestone tiles are used for several applications such as
facades, interior and exterior walls, interior and exterior floorings,
gardens, swimming pools, road surfaces and pavements. This stone can
be installed in kitchens, bathrooms or fireplaces. For
instance, CUPABLUE Limestone is a dark toned carbonate rock with very
fine grain size and dolomite formations that can be produced in any size
up to 240x120cm. The standard format are 60x30cm and 60x40cm with
a thickness from 1.5 to 3cm.
2. PANELS:
limestone can be used in natural panels for wall cladding. For
example, CUPA STONE has created STONEPANEL Nilo, composed of cream
colored limestone with golden ruts and earth tones. Available in a standard
measure of 60 x 20 cm and a thickness of 2.5-4 cm, these panels can be
used in interior and exterior cladding thanks to its incorporated
mechanical anchor for installation on surfaces higher than two meters.
Limestone is a highly valued stone by architects for traditional and
contemporary projects. This natural material adds beauty to many
buildings because it is offered in a wide range of finishes such as
polished or brushed. The finish applied to the stone can change the
color, creating deeper or richer tones. It can also complement other
building materials and it can be used for other highly decorative
applications.
 Granite

Granite ( /ˈɡrænɪt/) is a common type of felsic intrusive igneous

rock that is granular and phaneritic in texture. Granites can be
predominantly white, pink, or gray in color, depending on
their mineralogy. The word "granite" comes from the Latin granum, a
grain, in reference to the coarse-grained structure of such
a holocrystalline rock. Strictly speaking, granite is an igneous rock with
between 20% and 60% quartz by volume, and at least 35% of the total
feldspar consisting of alkali feldspar, although commonly the term
"granite" is used to refer to a wider range of coarse-grained igneous
rocks containing quartz and feldspar.

People have used granite for thousands of years. It is used as a construction

material, a dimension stone, an architectural stone, a decorative stone, and it
has also been used to manufacture a wide variety of products.

Granite is used in buildings, bridges, paving, monuments, and many other

exterior projects. Indoors, polished granite slabs and tiles are used in
countertops, tile floors, stair treads and many other design elements. Granite
is a prestige material, used in projects to produce impressions of elegance and
quality.

Granite does not need to be quarried to be used. Mount Rushmore, a granite

monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota, is a tribute to George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln that
is carved directly into the mountain.