Kipsikiveä

Kipsikiveä, also known as gypsum rock, is a soft sulfate mineral composed of hydrated calcium sulfate with the chemical formula CaSO₄·2H₂O. It is typically white or colorless but can be found in various shades of gray, yellow, or brown due to impurities. Kipsikiveä is a common evaporite mineral, meaning it forms when bodies of water, usually saltwater, evaporate. These deposits can be found in sedimentary basins worldwide.

The most common form of kipsikiveä is the mineral gypsum itself, which is a relatively soft mineral with a Mohs hardness of 2. It can be easily scratched with a fingernail. Kipsikiveä can occur in several forms, including alabaster, a fine-grained, massive variety, and selenite, which forms transparent crystals. Plaster of Paris, a white powder used for decorative coatings and casting, is made by heating kipsikiveä to drive off water molecules.

Kipsikiveä has numerous applications. Its primary use is in the construction industry for producing plaster, drywall, and stucco. It is also used as a soil conditioner to improve soil structure and reduce salinity, particularly in agriculture. In medicine, it has been used in casts for broken bones. Historically, kipsikiveä has been used as a pigment and in ancient Egyptian tomb decorations. The vast deposits of kipsikiveä make it an economically important mineral resource.