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A Technique for Rapid Removal of Gypsum from Soil Samples¹

ABSTRACT

Removal of gypsum from soil samples is necessary to disperse soils for particle-size analysis or clay separation for mineralogical study. A technique utilizing the heating of gypsiferous soil overnight at 105°C is presented. The heat treatment converts gypsum to bassanite which is more soluble than the gypsum and the disruption of the gypsum upon dehydration also yields bassanite particles which can easily be crushed to provide a greater surface area. Subsequently, the time required to remove gypsum from soil by dialysis is reduced by >50%. Heating the samples did not change the clay mineralogy or the cation exchange capacity, but did result in slightly higher total and fine clays and slightly lower sand contents.

¹ Contribution from the Texas Agric. Exp. Stn., College Station. This research was supported in part by State funds allocated for the acceleration of soil survey in Texas.

² Research Associate, Associate Professor, and Research Associates, Dep. of Soil & Crop Sci., Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843.

Received for publication April 16, 1982. Accepted for publication July 30, 1982.