The Gypsum Files

In support of the study, primary life cycle inventory (LCI) data were collected for three major gate-to-gate processes in the production of gypsum wallboard (natural or crude gypsum ore extraction, gypsum paper manufacture, and gypsum wallboard production) for the reference year 2010. The manufacturing plant study sample included all Gypsum Association member companies and represented about 30% of all gypsum wallboard produced in the USA. To ensure representativeness, the manufacturing plant study also considered the scale of operations including a mix of small, medium and large facilities, their geographical location in each US census region and their source of gypsum (adjacent quarry, mine, or imported gypsum ore) as well as their use of flue gas desulphurization (FGD) gypsum.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/business/press-releases/article/Gypsum-Association-Commissions-Athena-Institute-3335326.php#ixzz1maHsKygW

Ninety-seven homeowners in four states have joined lawsuits against U.S. drywall manufacturers in the past year, claiming that their drywall is releasing enough sulfur gas to corrode wiring and appliances and cause headaches, nosebleeds, labored breathing and irritated eyes—complaints that until now have been mostly associated with Chinese drywall. Many families have abandoned their homes, fearing long-term health problems. Some are facing foreclosure, or even bankruptcy.

via American-Made Drywall Emerges as Potential Danger – ProPublica.

According to a report in Hanley-Wood’s ProSales Online, USG’s Nov. 3 announcement of a price increase was followed by similar announcements by CertainTeed Corp. in Valley Forge, National Gypsum Co., Lafarge, and Temple-Inland Inc.

USG, which reported $297 million in profit in the boom year of 2006, sustained huge losses in 2010′s first three quarters – including $100 million in the third quarter, reflecting “continued weak market conditions and extraordinarily low shipping volumes,” said chairman and chief executive officer William C. Foote.

In 2009, production of drywall industrywide was almost half that of 2006.

via Hike in drywall costs expected to hammer builders | Philadelphia Inquirer | 11/15/2010.

Photo by Mike Fitzpatrick

Today I discovered a wonderful slide show of the US Gypsum mine and board plant in Shoals, Indiana. The photos date from 1978 — check out that Farrah Fawcett poster in the mine lounge! If you look at the photos individually, there are notes explaining the context.

I was still attending Shoals High School in 1978. Every year USG graciously hosted the local eighth grade class for a tour of the board plant, introducing them to the town’s largest industry.

Gyp Hills Scenic Drive and Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway earned a place among the 8 Wonders because of the beauty of the red-colored butte-and-mesa topography. The rocks were deposited in the Permian Period about 250 million years ago when a large shallow bay covered much of the area. When the bay was cut off from the ocean and the water evaporated, the rocks left behind were salt and gypsum. Much of the 22-mile route on the byway is open range cattle country. See the Gyp Hills three miles west of Medicine Lodge on U. S. 160. Travel the byway on U.S.160 from Medicine Lodge to Coldwater.

via Land thrills.

More lovely gypsum. Click on the link for more photos.

The Red Hills of southern Kansas are made of Permian aged redbeds and are so riddled with gypsum veins, they’re also known as the Gypsum Hills. Near Medicine Lodge, Kansas this rock is even mined for gypsum to make wallboard. Today’s deskcrop is one of the gypsum vein fragments that made it back to my office. You can still see the very red soil, which I haven’t entirely washed off.

via Day #42 Deskcrop: Gypsum Veins » Ron Schott’s Geology Home Companion Blog.