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O C TO B E R 2 0 1 4
GypsumOpportunities in New South Wales, Australia
To Adelaide
Paxtons GypsumMinePaxtons GypsumMine
GypsumPalace
GypsumPalace
Emmdale Gypsumdeposit
Emmdale Gypsumdeposit
Paka GypsumMine
Paka GypsumMine
White PlainsGypsum MineWhite PlainsGypsum Mine
MudgeeDUBBO
Wentworth
Cobar
ORANGE
WOLLONGONG
Nyngan
Walgett
Coonamble Gunnedah
Parkes
BrokenHill
Narrabri
Inverell
Young
Cowra
Goulburn
Griffith
NOWRA
Batemans Bay
Narooma
Bega
Cooma
Moree
WAGGAWAGGA
ALBURY
Grafton
Yamba
Ballina
LISMORE
NEWCASTLE
Balranald
Deniliquin
TibooburraLightning Ridge
Eden
BATHURST
PORT MACQUARIE
COFFS HARBOUR
Kempsey
Taree
Muswellbrook
Bourke
TAMWORTH
Armidale
SYDNEY
CANBERRA
A.C.T.
Q U E E N S L A N D
V I C T O R I A
SO
UT
H A
US
TR
AL
I A
New EnglandOrogen
LachlanOrogen
Murray Basin
Delamerian OrogenCurnamonaCraton
Thomson Orogen
REFERENCE
<1000 t production>1000 t productionOperating mineExport portRailway Major road, sealedMajor road, unsealedGas pipelineGas pipeline, proposed
200 km
N
Pure gypsum is hydrous calcium sulphate (CaSO4.2H2O). Minerals commonly associated with gypsum include anhydrite, halite, calcite, dolomite, celestite and borates.
Over 230 identified deposits and occurrences of gypsum are known in New South Wales (NSW). Western NSW has excellent potential for large and widely distributed, high grade deposits of gypsum.
Extraction to date has been mainly small-scale, for lower-grade agricultural use as a soil conditioner. There is potential for large, high-grade deposits suitable for use in higher-value applications including the following:
• Plaster board and high quality building materials• Pharmaceuticals and medical applications (e.g. casts)• Fluxes for titanium manufacture• Mine rehabilitation• Toothpaste additive• Food additive to increase calcium• Water clarifier to settle out solutes• Paper filler• For wine making, as it assists in controlling the tartness of wine• Sulphuric acid• Portland cement
Geological setting
Gypsum is an evaporite mineral that forms when saline water evaporates. Most gypsum deposits in NSW of commercial significance are Quaternary in age (i.e. 2.5 million years to <10 000 years old). They are associated with evaporative lakes and commonly bounded by lunettes (isolated dunes) and occur in areas of low rainfall and high evaporation such as western NSW. Gypsum can be interbedded with other sedimentary deposits.
Highlights
The Paka Gypsum mine produced over 210 000 tonnes of gypsum for cement manufacture before closure of the nearby railway line.
Other significant historical production areas include:
• Hillston district• Trida–Ivanhoe district• Wentworth district• Balranald district
Sources:www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/237848/Gypsum.pdfwww.gypsum.org/about/gypsum-101/uses-gypsumThe Gypsum Deposits of NSW, Mineral Resources No 33, by L.J. Jones, Department of Mines.
www.resourcesandenergy.nsw.gov.auContact: [email protected] | +61 2 4931 6689
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at time of writing (October 2014), using publicly available information. Because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date. The information contained in this publication may not be or may no longer be aligned with government policy nor does the publication indicate or imply government policy. No warranty about the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information contained in this document is inferred (including, without limitation, any information in the document provided by third parties). While all reasonable care has been taken in the compilation, to the extent permitted by law, the State of New South Wales (including the NSW Department of Planning and Environment) exclude all liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information, or for any injury, loss, or damage whatsoever (including without limitation liability for negligence and consequential losses) suffered by any person acting, or purporting to act, in reliance upon anything contained herein. Users should rely upon their own advice, skills, interpretation and experience in applying information contained in this publication. The product trade names in this publication are supplied on the understanding that no preference between equivalent products is intended and that the inclusion of a product name does not imply endorsement by the Department over any equivalent product.
