Quartz
Quartz (SiO2 or silicon dioxide) is crystalline silica and is an important rock-forming mineral. It is the second most common mineral in the crust of the earth, second only to the feldspars. Commonly known for its use in glass, SiO2 content in quartz must reach purity levels in the 97-99% range to be suitable, depending on the type of glass. Although silicon dioxide is abundant, not all deposits are chemically exact, with the SiO2 purity and the chemical make up of the trace elements varying in different deposits. Contamination of quartz can be from mineral and fluid inclusions and non-silica elements entering atomic sites usually occupied by silicon and oxygen. The quartz that i-minerals is developing is defined as high pure quartz because of the chemistry with silica being greater than 99.98% pure.Uses
i-minerals can make a range of quartz products of various purities and grinds. Higher value applications for quartz products include flat panel displays in television and computer monitors, lighting applications, high value glass, and paint. With minimal processing large volume markets include float glass, fiber glass, container glass, ceramics, and golf course sand.
