Gypsum and the Mastodon of Nova Scotia

Gypsum and the Mastodon of Nova Scotia T. Webb HHS

Name: ______

October 22, 2001 was the 100th year anniversary of discovering “Marvin” – a mastodon approximately 89,100 years old, in the Milford gypsum mine. Stanley, a juvenile mastodon, was found shortly thereafter… Explore the following to learn the relationship of gypsum and the preservation of a mastodon.  http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fossils/amazing/mastodon.htm 1. Follow the links to read about Background - mastodon discoveries in Nova Scotia 1991 discovery and excavation The Occurrence See the Mastodon Bones

2. What type of materials were the mastodon bones found in? Describe the relationships.

3. What geologic conditions helped to preserve the bones? Explain.

Go to http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/meb/ic/ic16.htm 4. What is the difference between gypsum and anhydrite?

5. Scroll down to “Nova Scotia’s Resources”. How significant are the resources found in Nova Scotia? Describe. What defines the Windsor Group? 6. Scroll down to “Present Day Operations”, and keep in mind that this data (1990) is a bit dated now. However, it still provides an idea of how much gypsum is mined form our area. Fill in the blanks as indicated.

“Fundy Gypsum Company Limited, a subsidiary of U. S. Gypsum, produced _____ Mt of stone from its two quarries near Windsor, Hants County, in ______. Although most of their gypsum is wallboard grade stone, they also produce high purity, white gypsum and anhydrite products. Their stone is moved by a unit train16 km to shipping facilities at ______. These facilities are capable of loading at a rate of ______t /h in order to cope with a 12 m tidal range at the dockside.”

7. According to the Mineral Resources Act of Nova Scotia (1990), is gypsum considered a mineral? Explain in detail.

8. Go to http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fossils/index.htm Look through the Amazing Discoveries, Horton Bluff Footprints, Important Sites and the Geological History links… Also - see if you can find a site with a fossil of silicified wood I found (Triassic age) 