Industrial minerals are naturally occurring minerals or rocks that are used in various industrial applications due to their physical and chemical properties. They are different from metallic minerals, which are used for their metal content, and have a wide range of uses in industries such as construction, ceramics, glass, plastics, and agriculture, among others.
Some common examples of industrial minerals include:
Limestone: Used as a building material and as a raw material in the production of cement, steel, and chemicals.
Bentonite: Used in the construction industry as a binding agent for concrete, as well as in the drilling industry as a lubricant and sealing agent.
Barite: Used in the oil and gas drilling industry as a weighting agent to increase the density of drilling fluids.
Feldspar: Used in the ceramic and glass industries as a flux to lower the melting point of materials.
Kaolin: Used in the paper, paint, and ceramics industries as a filler and coating agent.
Mica: Used in the electrical and electronic industries as an insulating material.
Talc: Used in the paper, paint, and plastics industries as a filler and coating agent.
Industrial minerals are often processed to meet specific requirements for particle size, purity, and other properties. They are typically extracted from mines, quarries, or other geological formations and are often found in large deposits around the world.
In summary, industrial minerals are naturally occurring minerals or rocks that are used in various industrial applications. They have a wide range of uses and are essential for many industries, including construction, ceramics, glass, plastics, and agriculture.