Mineral Origins and Mining

From the World's Purest Gypsum, a Mineral that Spans Our Lives Gypsum is a naturally occurring mineral found in sedimentary deposits throughout the world. Records dating from almost 5,000 years ago tell us that gypsum has long been used as a building material. From the great pyramids, we have proof that the early Egyptians dead burned gypsum in open fires and crushed it to make a plaster-like substance used to conceal their pharaohs in burial tombs. Gypsum got its name from the Greeks, who called it gypsos, and used a very pure form of the substance in their temple windows. Filtering light with a moonlight-like iridescence, the material was called Selenite after their moon goddess, Selene.

Found throughout the world, gypsum got the name Plaster of Paris from rich deposits near the French capital. These have long been mined for their agricultural value and industrial applications. In fact, it was Ambassador to France Benjamin Franklin who sold American farmers on the value of gypsum as a fertilization agent. When the Columbian Exposition opened its doors in 1893, gypsum entered the world of construction.
Used for industrial tooling and metal castings, gypsum is essential to the manufacture of parts for airplanes and automobiles. Plasters also play an important role in the ceramics industry, and are widely used for statuary and decorative arts and crafts.

Produced from some of the World's Purest Gypsum Georgia-Pacific industrial gypsum plaster is produced from exceptional raw resources, up to 99+ percent pure, in carefully controlled conditions. The mined gypsum is calcined and treated to ensure proper aging characteristics. In addition it is precision ground to ensure optimum particle size. Throughout this process, the material is subjected to strict inspections and testing to guarantee its high level of quality.

The Mining Process
Gypsum is mined both from surface quarries and underground mines. Georgia-Pacific Gypsum is fortunate to own a number of the earth's best gypsum deposits, up to 99+ percent pure, and rights to synthetic sources across North America. Our mines and quarries are located throughout the Americas and the raw material they supply to the North American manufacturing facilities is prized for its extremely high quality and commercial value.