We love getting questions about mining, minerals and geology! We were asked about sand and fieldstone in the world-class #gypsum deposit in #Milford, Nova Scotia. This thread is our answer:
#nspoli #cbpoli #novascotia #capebreton #mining #geology @mmillershubie @SeanFraserMP
327-342 million years ago, global sea levels rose and fell many times. This repeatedly flooded Nova Scotia with what we call the Windsor Sea. #NovaScotia was near the equator at that time so the sea also evaporated repeatedly in the tropical sun.
#nspoli #cbpoli #capebreton
This process gave us huge gypsum deposits because gypsum forms when water high in calcium and sulfate evaporates, leaving the calcium and sulfate behind as sediment. The sediment builds up and is eventually turned into gypsum rock by heat and pressure.
#nspoli #cbpoli #novascotia
#NovaScotia has traditionally been one of the world’s largest providers of #gypsum and #Milford is the world’s largest surface gypsum mine. It’s been employing #NovaScotians for over 60 years.
#nspoli #cbpoli #capebreton #mining #geology @mmillershubie @SeanFraserMP
Most of its #gypsum is used to manufacture wallboard/drywall – the walls of most homes and buildings in Nova Scotia contain gypsum from the site.
#nspoli #cbpoli #novascotia #capebreton #mining #geology @mmillershubie @SeanFraserMP
Fieldstones are usually erratics: rocks carried by glaciers and deposited as the glaciers melt. Fieldstones were historically often used in walls and buildings because they could just be picked up and used - no extraction necessary.
#nspoli #cbpoli #novascotia #capebreton #mining
The #Milford #gypsum deposit has pockets of sand and fieldstone in it. They were formed during the last ice age by running water from melting glaciers eroding out the pockets and depositing sand and fieldstone into the openings.
#nspoli #cbpoli #novascotia #capebreton #mining
The sand and fieldstone were erratics carried to #Milford from northern Nova Scotia.
#nspoli #cbpoli #novascotia #capebreton #mining #geology @mmillershubie @SeanFraserMP
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