Asbestos, Kyanite and Gypsum
Geography › Mineral and Energy Resources · Topic 21.15
Asbestos, kyanite and gypsum are non-metallic minerals of industrial use. Asbestos is a group of fibrous silicate minerals, resistant to heat, but its dust causes lung disease and cancer, so mining is stopped in India and its use is under restriction. Kyanite is an aluminium silicate used in refractories and ceramics. Gypsum, hydrated calcium sulphate, is used in cement, plaster and as a soil conditioner. Rajasthan produces almost all of India's gypsum.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Geography · Mineral and Energy Resources
At a Glance
- Asbestos Fibrous silicate; health hazard
- Kyanite Aluminium silicate; refractories
- Gypsum Calcium sulphate; cement, plaster
- Gypsum state Rajasthan
- Kyanite region Singhbhum, Jharkhand
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Geography: Mineral and Energy Resources
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fifteenth topic of the macro on mineral and energy resources. The previous topic covered limestone, dolomite and magnesite, and this one covers three more industrial non-metals. The last topic covers uranium and thorium. Previous topic: Limestone, Dolomite and Magnesite. Next topic: Uranium and Thorium.
What Are These Minerals, and What Are They Used For?
| Mineral | Nature | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos | A group of fibrous silicates, mainly chrysotile (white asbestos), with amphiboles such as crocidolite (blue) and amosite; found in metamorphic rocks | Fire-resistant and insulating; used in cement sheets and pipes, brake linings, insulation; dust causes asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma |
| Kyanite | Aluminium silicate, usually blue and in bladed crystals; formed in metamorphic rocks at high pressure; becomes mullite when heated | Refractory bricks, porcelain, spark plugs, ceramics and abrasives; it keeps its shape at high temperatures |
| Gypsum | Hydrated calcium sulphate; a soft mineral formed by evaporation of saline water in lagoons and dry lakes | A set retarder in cement, plaster of Paris, wallboards, soil conditioner for alkaline soils, a source of sulphur and in pottery and medicine |
All three are low-value, bulk minerals that depend on construction, metals and agriculture for their market. Gypsum is the most widely used by volume, as in Limestone, Dolomite and Magnesite, which describes the rocks that go with it in the cement industry. It is also produced as a waste called phosphogypsum, from fertiliser plants, and from the cleaning of flue gas in power plants.
Where Are They Found?
| Mineral | Distribution |
|---|---|
| Asbestos | World: Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Brazil, though Brazil banned its use in 2017 and many countries have banned it. India: small deposits in Rajasthan (Udaipur, Ajmer, Pali), Andhra Pradesh (Kadapa), Karnataka (Hassan) and Jharkhand; mining has stopped since the 1980s, and India imports chrysotile, mostly from Russia, for the cement sheet industry |
| Kyanite | India is among the leading producers; Lapsa Buru and Kharsawan in Singhbhum, Jharkhand, and deposits in Maharashtra (Bhandara), Karnataka, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha; other leaders are the United States, South Africa and Brazil |
| Gypsum | Rajasthan produces more than nine-tenths of India’s gypsum, from Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Nagaur and Barmer, with some in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu (Tiruchirappalli); world producers include China, Iran, Turkey and the United States |
India’s gypsum is used in cement plants, in the agricultural sector on the alkaline soils of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh as a reclamation agent, and in plaster and building boards, which are in growing demand in cities.
What Is the Issue with Asbestos?
- Health: when asbestos fibres are inhaled, they stay in the lungs and cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma many years later, and the World Health Organization says there is no safe level of exposure.
- Bans: more than sixty countries have banned all forms of asbestos, including the European Union and Brazil. India stopped mining under mine safety rules in the 1980s, but the use of imported chrysotile in roofing sheets and pipes continues, and a full ban has been debated and was the subject of court cases, so the current position should be checked.
- Chemical status: India is party to the Rotterdam Convention, and chrysotile asbestos has been proposed for listing, though listing has been blocked by a few producers and users.
- Waste and legacy: old asbestos roofs and pipes in cities pose a hazard when broken or demolished, and workers need protection and compensation.
As an analytical point, asbestos is a case where a cheap, useful mineral has a social cost not reflected in its price. The path of policy has been to move to substitutes such as fibre cement, and to shift the burden of proof to those who would keep using it. Kyanite and gypsum, on the other hand, have fewer hazards, and their issues are mainly about mining on a small scale and the quality of the supply, as in Mining and Quarrying.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Facts States and uses asked
- Health Asbestos hazard
- Link Cement and agriculture
What Came Next?
The final topic of the subject describes uranium and thorium. Next topic: Uranium and Thorium.
Key People and Terms
- Chrysotile White asbestos
- Mesothelioma Cancer caused by asbestos
- Kyanite Aluminium silicate
- Plaster of Paris Heated gypsum powder
- Phosphogypsum Fertiliser plant waste gypsum
- Rotterdam Convention Hazardous chemical trade treaty
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Asbestos is fibrous and heat-resistant, but hazardous.
- Kyanite is a refractory mineral.
- Gypsum goes into cement and plaster.
- Rajasthan has over nine-tenths of gypsum.
- Singhbhum has kyanite.
Do Not Confuse With
- Gypsum and limestone Calcium sulphate versus calcium carbonate
- Asbestos and fibreglass Natural mineral fibre versus man-made glass fibre
- Kyanite and mica Refractory silicate versus sheet silicate
Memory Hook
Asbestos burns not but harms the breath; kyanite lines the furnace; gypsum sets the cement and sweetens the soil.
Mains Angle
Questions ask for uses and hazards. These points add depth.
- Use Construction, refractories, farming
- Risk Asbestos health costs
- Policy Bans and substitutes
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the uses and distribution of gypsum, kyanite and asbestos in India and the health concerns related to asbestos.”
How to Answer
- Nature Three minerals.
- Use Cement, refractory, farm.
- Place Rajasthan, Jharkhand.
- Hazard Asbestos policy.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is asbestos and why is it harmful?
Asbestos is a group of fibrous silicate minerals, mainly chrysotile, that resist heat and fire and were widely used in roofing sheets, pipes and brake linings. Its fine fibres, when inhaled, lodge in the lungs and cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, so many countries have banned it.
Does India mine asbestos?
Asbestos mining in India has been stopped since the 1980s, though small deposits exist in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. India imports chrysotile asbestos, mostly from Russia, mainly for making cement sheets and pipes, and the issue of a complete ban has been debated for years.
What is kyanite used for?
Kyanite is an aluminium silicate mineral that keeps its shape and strength at very high temperatures, so it is used mainly in refractory bricks for furnaces, as well as in porcelain, ceramics, spark plugs and abrasives. In India it is found at Singhbhum in Jharkhand and in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Which state produces the most gypsum in India?
Rajasthan produces more than nine-tenths of India's gypsum, from the Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Nagaur and Barmer districts. Smaller amounts are found in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. It is used for cement, plaster, wallboard and as a soil conditioner.
How is gypsum used in agriculture?
Gypsum is applied to alkaline or saline-sodic soils as a reclamation agent because the calcium in it replaces sodium in the soil, which improves its structure and drainage. It is also a source of calcium and sulphur for crops such as groundnut and oilseeds, so it is used in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Gypsum is used as a set retarder in cement.
It controls the setting time.
2 Rajasthan is the leading producer of gypsum in India.
Over nine-tenths.
3 Asbestos fibres are completely safe to inhale.
They cause lung disease and cancer.
4 Kyanite is used mainly to make refractory products.
It resists very high heat.
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