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Article: Brucite--Industrial Mineral with a future.(Report)
- Article from:
- Geoscience Canada
- Article date:
- June 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 Geological Association of Canada. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
SUMMARY
Brucite, Mg[(OH).sub.2], is an uncommon mineral primarily known to mineral collectors, and to specialists studying contact metamorphic and ultramafic rocks. It is an environmentally friendly flame-retardant and is in commercial demand; it also represents a potential ore source for the metal, magnesium, which is itself in great demand. The present brucite market for flame-retardants is less than 50 000 tonnes annually, but it is increasing exponentially. Brucite has the advantage of not containing C[O.sub.2]; hence none is released during calcination, a positive feature in today's society concerned with climate change. This ...