Cement plant operation

[sailormatlac]

Is the gypsum that they get or mine like the plaster in wallboard? Do they take that and heat it to remove the water and make powder out of it?

Ok, I got new information from the worker a few minutes ago. The gypsum was in raw state and they had to crush it at the plant to get the fine powder we know. Yes, it's the same thing as wallboard and joint coumpound. Makes it more workable, but a little bit less efficient as a fire barrier than pure plaster.

Also, they only had one conveyor for gypsum AND coal. He told me they would let it run a few minutes to get most of the dirt out and would start moving other material. It was relatively clean and anyway, there was a cleaning process when gypsum was treated.

@e-paw, those plant must have make a hefty profit with such excellent location! There's no gypsum in Quebec, I suppose they got it from the Maritimes or Ontario. The worker told me most of the profit they made back then was with hydroelectric dams being built in the 60s, 70s and 80s in Northern Quebec at James Bay. Coal was from Pennsylvania. Do you have an idea what type of coal would be used? Anthracite or something less efficient?

He said the switcher was extremely busy everyday, the production was at a peak and the small yard was overcrowded with slabside hoppers, cylindrical hoppers and Procor pressure cars.

Matt