Quartz
Quartz (SiO2 or silicon dioxide) is crystalline silica, the second most common mineral in the crust of the earth. It has been known for its hardness since antiquity and is well known for its use in glass. However, different types of glass require different SiO2 purity levels with some types of glass requiring the SiO2 content in quartz to have purity levels in the 97-99% range to be suitable. Although silicon dioxide is abundant, not all deposits are chemically exact, with the SiO2 purity and the levels of various trace element impurities varying across 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 will include three levels of purity in excess of 99%, with the highest grade defined as high pure quartz because the chemistry will exceed 99.98% SiO2 purity.Uses
I-Minerals can make a range of quartz products of various purities and grinds. Higher value applications for quartz products the Company is targeting include sodium silicate, paint, solar glass, optical glass, art glass, glass bulbs, liquid crystal display (LCD) glass.
