World's largest gypsum quarry to be expanded

National Gypsum Canada intends to make the largest gypsum quarry in the world even bigger. The quarry is located in Milford, Nova Scotia, and currently covers an area of 3.01 square kilometers. It is planned to expand the territory of the quarry by another 1.44 square kilometers, 1.35 of which will be directly used for the extraction of gypsum stone.

"We want to make sure we have an adequate supply of gypsum and the market is better than it was," said Nancy Spurlock, a company spokeswoman. An increase in U.S. housing starts of about 1 million units in 2014, up 8% from 2013, continues to drive demand for occupied products.

The company has already submitted for approval with the regional administration a plan for the proposed expansion of the quarry, as provided for by Canadian environmental protection laws. The response will be received on April 9, 2015. The expected productivity of the expanded pit in the twenty-year term is 3.1 million tons per year, but the actual output will depend on market needs. The expansion of the quarry is a long-term project: it will take place in the next 35-40 years and will also depend on the needs of the market.

The Milford field has produced more than 134 million tons of gypsum since its discovery in 1954. Currently, the quarry is served by 60 employees of National Gypsum Canada, and its expansion will lead to the creation of new jobs. This quarry belongs to the American corporation National Gypsum and is the only one of its eight deposits located outside the United States.

The area where the quarry will be expanded includes forests, wetlands, clearings, and agricultural land. Part of the wetlands surrounding the quarry will be set aside as an ecological buffer zone.