Magnesite Applications

Magnesite Applications

Magnesite occurs as veins in and an alteration product of ultramafic rocks, serpentinite and other magnesium rich rock types in both contact and regional metamorphic terrains. These magnesites often are cryptocrystalline and contain silica in the form of opal or chert.

Magnesite is also present within the regolith above ultramafic rocks as a secondary carbonate within soil and subsoil, where it is deposited as a consequence of dissolution of magnesium-bearing minerals by carbon dioxide within groundwaters.

Similar to the production of lime, magnesite can be burned in the presence of charcoal to produce MgO, which, in the form of a mineral, is known as periclase. Large quantities of magnesite are burnt to make magnesium oxide: an important refractory material used as a lining in blast furnaces, kilns and incinerators.
Calcination temperatures determine the reactivity of resulting oxide products and the classifications of light burnt and dead burnt refer to the surface area and resulting reactivity of the product, typically as determined by an industry metric of the iodine number.
Magnesite has been used in flooring as a binder. It is used as a lining in furnaces and cement kilns. It also makes an excellent firebrick. Caustic calcined magnesia is used as a food supplement in fertilizers and for fillers in plastics, paints and paper. It is also used as a filler and catalyst in the production of synthetic rubber.

Raw magnesite is used for surface coatings and as a fire retardant. It is also used in ceramics, face powder, disinfectants, Epsom salts and boiler wrappings.

Main applications:
Agricultural
Applications
Electric Grade Steel
Electric Utilities
Flame Retardant / Smoke Suppressant
Food Additives
Glass Making
H2S Odor and Corrosion Control
Refractories (Hard Burned Magnesium Oxide)
Industrial