Quartz is one of the most common and well-known minerals on the planet. Best known as the principal constituent of glass, quartz offers multiple other uses ranging from construction granulates to solar panels.
The world’s second most abundant mineral
Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms and the second most abundant mineral in the planet’s crust, after the feldspar family of minerals.
Quartz is a defining constituent of granite and other felsic igneous rocks. It is common in sedimentary rocks such as sandstone and shale as well as schist, gneiss, quartzite and other metamorphic rocks.
Quartz crystals, which are hexagonal in shape, vary enormously in size and colour.
This versatile mineral is both durable and chemically inert and demonstrates excellent heat resistance as well as electrical properties. Following transformation into silicon (Si) through gaseous reduction at high temperature, it becomes a valuable metalloid for the production of solar panels, semiconductors and electronics, aluminum and steel alloys and for the construction industry. Silicon tetravalence allows for numerous chemical combinations that are particularly appreciated in silicone applications such as cosmetics, gaskets elastomers, prostheses.
Quartz is silicon dioxide with the chemical formula SiO2.
Physical properties
- Hard (7 on Mohs scale)
- Chemically inert
- Thermal stability
- Electrical properties
High-performance minerals for a wide range of end uses
Multi Mineral Processing high purity quartz is an ideal material for manufacturing the crucibles used in the casting of silicon for photovoltaic cells that make up solar panels and semiconductor components.
Multi Mineral Processing also produces quartz aggregates (sand and gravel) and pebbles for decorative use to serve the construction and public works sectors.
Multi Mineral Processing will continue to focus its research efforts on finding new outlets for its high-purity quartz products that support the use of energy from renewable sources such as solar power cells.