Olivine

Chemistry

MgO	47.650
SiO2	41.350
Fe2O3	8.000
CaO	0.350
Cr2O3	0.250
NiO	0.350
Al2O3	0.800

Volatiles

LOI

1.250

Miscellaneous

Family: Refractory
Region: None
Mined At: Unspecified
Raw Mineral: Yes
Generic: No

Notes

(Richard Willis)

Olivine is refractory, inert, hydration free mineral produced from intrusive or effusive volcanic rocks (e.g. Forsterite Mg2SiO4, Fayalite Fe2SiO4 (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄. It has a low degree of thermal dilation. The density and solubility increase and the melting point decreases with increasing iron content. Olivine requires no calcination prior to use.

Also similar are willemite, tephroite, and crisoberite.

Olivine has good insulating properties and high resistance to alkaline oxides, sulphates, carbonates and halides and is excellent for use in resin bonded brick, ramming, gunning and sprayable refractories. It is also a cost effective source of MgO in refractories.

The absence of free silica eliminates temperature inversion to produce creep resistance equal to or better than bauxite, corundum and andalusite-based refractories.

Rock with high olivine and low iron content are used mainly in iron metallurgy as foundry sands. The olivine is added to the blast furnace with iron mineral and coke. It binds to the iron impurities to create slag and increases the fluidity of the molten material. Thanks to its basicity and good refractory qualities (better than those of the more commonly used silica sands), olivine sand is used for special smelting such as stainless and manganese steel. The refractory industry uses olivine in the manufacture of formed and non-formed basic products (sprayed masses and granules) used mainly in iron metallurgy.

Olivine is used for sandblasting because of its complete absence of free silica even in the finest fractions.

Olivine is available in a wide range of sizes from granular to 325 mesh.

Data

Density: 3.3
Hardness (Moh): 6.5-7
Solubility: Soluble in HNO
Melting Point (MP): 2800-3200F
Co-efficient of Linear Expansion: 0.0083 in./in. per F
Bulk Density (lbs/cu. ft): 90-110

URLs

Wikipedia definition - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivine

Suppliers

Unimin Corp

Authors

Tony Hansen (Owner)

Pictures

Olivine Fosterite

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<material name="Olivine" descrip="" generic="0" rawmineral="1" searchkey="" loi="0.00">
<families>
<family name="Refractory"/>
</families>
<oxides>
<oxide symbol="CaO" name="Calcium Oxide, Calcia" status="" percent="0.350" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="MgO" name="Magnesium Oxide, Magnesia" status="" percent="47.650" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Al2O3" name="Aluminum Oxide, Alumina" status="" percent="0.800" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="SiO2" name="Silicon Dioxide, Silica" status="" percent="41.350" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Cr2O3" name="Chrome Oxide" status="" percent="0.250" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="Fe2O3" name="Iron Oxide, Ferric Oxide" status="" percent="8.000" tolerance=""/>
<oxide symbol="NiO" name="Nickel Oxide" status="" percent="0.350" tolerance=""/>
</oxides>
<volatiles>
<volatile symbol="" name="" percent="1.250" tolerance=""/>
</volatiles>
<suppliers>
<supplier name="Unimin Corp" country="US" url="www.unimin.com" label=""/>
</suppliers>
<notes>
<note>Olivine is refractory, inert, hydration free mineral produced from intrusive or effusive volcanic rocks (e.g. Forsterite Mg2SiO4, Fayalite Fe2SiO4 (Mg, Fe)2SiO4.
It has a low degree of thermal dilation. The density and solubility increase and the melting point decreases with increasing iron content.
Olivine requires no calcination prior to use.Also similar are willemite, tephroite, and crisoberite.
Olivine has good insulating properties and high resistance to alkaline oxides, sulphates, carbonates and halides and is excellent for use in resin bonded brick, ramming, gunning and sprayable refractories. It is also a cost effective source of MgO in refractories. 
 
The absence of free silica eliminates temperature inversion to produce creep
resistance equal to or better than bauxite, corundum and andalusite-based
refractories.
Rock with high olivine and low iron content are used mainly in iron metallurgy as foundry sands. The olivine is added to the blast furnace with iron mineral and coke. It binds to the iron impurities to create slag and increases the fluidity of the molten material. Thanks to its basicity and good refractory qualities (better than those of the more commonly used silica sands), olivine sand is used for special smelting such as stainless and manganese steel.
The refractory industry uses olivine in the manufacture of formed and non-formed
basic products (sprayed masses and granules) used mainly in iron metallurgy. 
Olivine is used for sandblasting because of its complete absence of free
silica even in the finest fractions.

Olivine is available in a wide range of sizes from granular to 325 mesh.</note>
</notes>
<testdata>
<testitem testname="0" value="3.3"/>
<testitem testname="0" value="6.5-7"/>
<testitem testname="0" value="Soluble in HNO"/>
<testitem testname="0" value="2800-3200F"/>
<testitem testname="0" value="0.0083 in./in. per F"/>
<testitem testname="0" value="90-110"/>
</testdata>
<pictures>
<picture description="Olivine Fosterite" filename="olivine_fosterite.jpg"/>
</pictures>
</material>

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