Using a heating rate of 2°C min−1, CaS reacts with oxygen in air from 700°C to form CaSO4, with a complete conversion at 1100°C. Synthesis of CaS from the reaction between CaSO4 containing compounds and carbon compounds in air would not be possible, as the carbon reacts from 600°C with oxygen in the air to give CO2. Heating stoichiometric amounts of carbon and pure CaSO4, synthetic gypsum or phosphogypsum in a nitrogen atmosphere, results in the formation of CaS from 850°C. Using a heating rate of 10°C min−1, the formation of CaS is completed at 1080°C. Addition of 5% Fe2O3 as a catalyst lowers the starting temperature of the reaction to 750°C. Activation energy values at different fraction reaction values (α) differ between 340 and 400 kJ mol−1. The relationship between the activation energy values and conversion (α) indicates that the reaction proceeds via multiple steps.