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Article: Sillimanite minerals
- Article from:
- Mining Engineering
- Article date:
- June 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc. Jun 1999. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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SILLMANITE MINERALS
G. DIXON and H. JAMERSON, Kyanite Mining Corp.
The sillimanite-group of minerals include andalusite, kyanite and sillimanite. They are naturally occurring polymers of Al2O^sub 3^ SiO^sub 2^. These aluminum silicates are primarily used as raw materials in the manufacture of refractory products used by the steel and aluminum industries.
Each polymer, however, has a unique crystalline structure that yields slightly varying physical properties. A high, hot-strength phase mullite, 3Al2O^sub 3^ 2SiO^sub 2^ can be produced by calcining naturally occurring sillimanitegroup minerals, especially kyanite.
Uses and production
Sillimanite-group minerals are efficient materials ...