Quartz has very interesting physical and chemical properties, due to which it can be used for a wide variety of industrial applications.
Quartz has very interesting physical and chemical properties like ball clay, due to which it can be used for a wide variety of industrial applications. A hard crystalline mineral made up of silicon and oxygen; Quartz is the second most abundant mineral found on Earth.
The following are its key characteristics:
- Quartz crystal possesses piezoelectric properties and can generate electric potential when mechanical stress is applied.
- It can withstand high temperatures as it has a very high melting point.
- Chemically it is highly stable and hence does not react with other chemicals.
- Quartz is one of the hardest naturally occurring minerals and is corrosion and abrasion-resistant.
- Naturally, Quartz crystals are white but based on impurities; they can be found in various colors.
10 Interesting Industrial Use of Quartz
1. Jewelry Sector
Quartz’s hard and long-lasting properties make it ideal for jewellery making. Citrin, Ametrine, Rose Quartz, Opal and Amethyst are some varieties of Quartz used in Jewelry. In addition, microcrystalline structures of Quart like Jasper and Agate are used as gemstones.
2. Glassmaking
One of the primary applications of Quartz is glassmaking. Silicon Dioxide is heated and then allowed to cool in the shape that is to be given to the glass. Optical-based crystals are used in producing sensors, micro and telescopes and lasers.
3. Metal Casting Industry
The hard nature of Quartz makes it an ideal candidate to be used in the metal casting industry. Its high melting point property is advantageous. It is often mixed with other components like clay to help in metal casting operations.
4. Clocks
Quartz naturally contains oscillators which have the property of vibrating at a precise set frequency. This property makes them highly useful in manufacturing accurate timepieces as they help regulate the movement of watches and clocks.
5. Petroleum Industry
Quartz is used in an essential process in the oil industry called hydraulic fracturing. In this process, silica sand, along with water and other chemicals, is forced down an oil well under high pressure, reaching the bottom to form a bedrock.
6. Kitchen Countertops
One of the rising industrial applications of Quartz is in producing engineered quartz stones that have enhanced properties than natural stones such as marble or granite. For example, due to the hardness of Quartz and its non-porous properties, it is used to manufacture kitchen countertops.
7. Laboratory Equipment
Quartz is chemically inert and resistant to high temperatures. This means that it will not react with other chemicals and cater to high-temperature applications. Due to these properties, Quartz is used to manufacture lab equipment like crucibles which can hold chemicals.
8. Electronics
The electronic properties of Quartz combined with its ability to remain inert in harsh conditions, this mineral is used even in the electronics industry. Quartz is used to manufacture radio transmitters, GPS and even computer parts.
9. Sharpening Tools
Cryptocrystalline versions of Quartz are super hard and have been used for years to sharpen the edge of medical incision devices, razors, knives and more. This usage of Quartz has been observed for hundreds of years.
10. Ceramic Industry
Last but not least, Quartz is widely used across the ceramic industry. It is mixed with clay and other chemicals to provide strength and whiteness to the final products. As a result, almost all ceramic products we use daily would have Quartz in some proportion.
Even though Quartz is abundant worldwide, its mining is a challenge. Therefore, this mineral must be extracted in the best possible manner to maintain its purity. Based on its inherent properties, it is then utilized in various industries with the above mentioned applications.
JLD Minerals has pioneered Quartz mining as well as ball clay mining for decades and now has become one of the leading raw minerals suppliers across the globe. Our best-in-class process and streamlined tech-enabled processes help us deliver high-quality Quartz variations in any part of the world.