Quartz features

• The rise of the superabrasives IM September 2018

  Automotive manufacturers are demanding better accuracy and longer life from abrasive tools, and this has created an opportunity for a new family of high-performance synthetic abrasives, as Industrial Minerals correspondent Rose Pengelly discovers. Read More

• The sun shines bright on high-purity quartz IM March 2018

  With the United States gearing up to create a domestic solar cell industry to rival that in China, Industrial Minerals correspondent Cameron Perks asks what effect this will have on domestic suppliers of high-purity quartz. Read More

• On the way up: Industrial minerals in India IM March 2018

  India has recorded economic growth of around 7% per year in the past three years. But while it has significant resources of some of the most widely used industrial minerals, this sector has shown only modest growth, as Industrial Minerals correspondent Sunder Singh discovers. Read More

• Processing: Going green IM July-August 2017

  Although the number of industrial minerals covered by IM is far reaching and the technology required for their production often varies by sector, the mining industry is seeing increasing calls for corporate social responsibility and greener technology, particularly in light of the growing role renewable energy has to play in the everyday lives of consumers. Read More

• Breaking down Silica Valley IM December 2016-January 2017

  Spruce Pine in the US state of North Carolina is the self-styled “silica valley” on which the more famous Silicon Valley of California relies for high purity quartz. Cameron Perks, IM Correspondent, investigates how the supply concentration of HPQ is causing concern and creating opportunities for other producers. Read More

• HPQ production in Russia gains momentum IM November 2015

  Russian Quartz LLC is ramping up its Kyshtym project in the southern Urals to produce 10,000 tpa high purity quartz concentrates from the beginning of next year. In cooperation with Japan’s Sumitomo Corp., the company hopes to turn the previously uneconomic project into a major supplier to Asia’s high-tech industries, Vladislav Vorotnikov, IM Correspondent, discovers. Read More

• Kaltun: Feelers out for new feldspar markets IM October 2015

  The mining arm of Kaltun Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret is one of the biggest feldspar producers in Turkey, with output of around 2m tpa as well as smaller quantities of mica and quartz. The company is seeking to build on its strong position in the Turkish market by reaching new customers in regions including the Middle East, Africa and Russia. Read More

• How did the Middle East become so important to industrial minerals? IM January 2015

  As well as importing more minerals into the region, countries in the Middle East also started to concentrate on developing their own minerals industry, here, Siobhan Lismore-Scott details why this has happened and where. Read More

• South East Asia: Room to grow IM December 2014

  Although regulatory difficulties in the past may have discouraged foreign investment, South East Asia is being touted as a region ripe for development with many underexploited resources and demand for industrial minerals in a variety of markets including refractories, glass, ceramics, construction and proppants. Andrew Scogings, IM Correspondant, Kasia Patel, Deputy Editor, and Tran Kim Phuong, Contributor Read More

• Norway’s mining strategy to attract exploration IM March 2014 issue

  The Norwegian government is seeking to attract miners to the country and has developed a strategy for the minerals industry to do this by promoting the country’s deposits and publicising the industries that are already in place and working. Read More

• LKAB Minerals looks to sustainability IM March 2014 issue

  LKAB Minerals highlighted the issue of sustainability in refractories at a number of events in the last 12 months, emphasising the need for renewable energy and more recycling. Read More

• High purity quartz: a cut above IM December 2013

  With limited competition and few high-grade resources worldwide, the market for high-purity quartz should be a tough nut to crack. Yet with leading producers working side-by-side and others focusing on targeted end-market specifications, progress has been steady even throughout the challenging financial period of late. Emma Hughes, Deputy Editor, takes a closer look at these projects. Read More

• Glass: a fragile industry? IM April 2013 issue

  Glass manufacturing is a large consumer of many industrial minerals, including soda ash, quartz and limestone. It is also used in a wide variety of industries, such as construction, manufacturing and home ware. But with the economic recession still leaving a trail of devastation in many industries, how will the glass supply chain fare in 2013? Read More

• Indian ceramics eye new heights May 2012

  India’s ceramics industry has emerged as a modern, world-class sector, ready to take on global competition. Consultant Ajay Kulshreshtha outlines the country’s main ceramic producers and raw material sources Read More

• End User Focus: Welding boosts rutile prices April 2012

  Minsands focus could turn to welding as global demand increases for the sector Read More

• High purity quartz: under the spotlight January 2012

  With an estimated market size of 100,000 tpa, and intrinsic ties to the semiconductor and photovoltaic cell markets, high purity quartz is the downplayed strategic mineral of the green technology boom Read More

• Greece seeks mineral lifeboat January 2012

  While economic difficulties for Greece continue, Ananias Tsirambides and Anestis Filippidis highlight the wealth of the country’s mineral resources and suggest how they could contribute to assisting its financial future Read More

• The winds of change August 2010

  The new generation of alternative power sources are providing attractive prospects for industrial mineral applications. Despite the recession, and against expectations, the photovoltaic and wind power sectors grew significantly in 2009, a trend that is expected to continue through 2014 Read More

• Tile boom cracks May 2010

  After many prosperous years, the ceramic tile industry saw its first real slowdown in 2008. Asia and the Middle East now lead the way to recovery, while Europe and the USA remain sluggish Read More

• Drying options: drumming home drying April issue 2009

  Mathias Trojosky of Allgaier Process Technology discusses the pros and cons of rotary drum versus fluidised bed drying techniques Read More

• Minerals to the grindstone January Issue 2009

  An abrasives market focus: opportunities have opened up for certain types of abrasive products, especially superabrasives in specific markets. Alison Russell reviews minerals used as abrasives and examines consumption trends within the industry. Read More

• Saudi silica scene December Issue 2008

  Industrial minerals are expected to play an important role in Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification policy. Amongst other minerals the country hosts high quality silica sand, quartz, and quartzite deposits. Mian Habib et al examine the country’s investment in high purity silica minerals, and highlights supply and demand Read More

• Chinese ceramics seek southern comfort October Issue 2008

  China's need for ceramics raw materials is increasing. The response from southern sources is examined Read More

• Afghanistan: Revival & redevelopment June Issue 2008

  Major redevelopment projects in Afghanistan are placing large demands on the minerals industry, which is struggling to keep pace. Clive Mitchell and Antony Benham report on the revival of the country’s industrial minerals industry Read More

• Ermad export future April Issue 2008

  Having established a solid position in the domestic Turkish feldspar and quartz markets, Turkish producer Ermad sees a bright export future in all minerals, including its olivine production Read More

• Turkey aspires to ceramic heights November Issue 2007

  Turkey's ever increasing production power and reserves of high quality ceramic raw materials, particularly feldspar has the leading European producing countries of Spain and Italy looking over their shoulders. Read More

• Greece is the word April Issue 2007

  Greece continues to hold leading positions in world magnesite, bentonite, perlite, and pumice production and exports. The country is also the leading producer of bauxite in the EU and a dominant player in the global cement market. Kiki Hatzilazaridou and Ioannis Marantos of IGME review the industry’s status, developments, and outlook Read More

• Minerals boost for Yemen December Issue 2006

  New IFC initiative to modernise mining regulation and boost investment Read More

• Minerals get set for REACH October Issue 2006

  The EU’s new REACH policy is scheduled to come into force in spring 2007. According to Roger Doome of IMA-Europe, co-ordination is the name of the game if the industrial minerals industry is to be ready for implementation. Read More

• A Viking tale August Issue 2006

  Often dwarfed by metallic exploration and production, the mining of industrial minerals in the Nordic region is often overlooked. However, the area hosts some of Europe’s most important carbonate deposits, as well as a suite of other minerals Read More

• Reaching agreement on crystalline silica August Issue 2006

  EU employers and employees concerned about the risks posed by respirable crystalline silica have reached Europe’s first multi-sector agreement, aimed at workers’ health protection. Dr Michelle Wyart-Remy, Secretary General of IMAEurope, explains its road to approval and how it will work. Read More

• Norwegian quartzite March Issue 2006

  Industrial minerals are widely used in the production of ferroalloys for steel production – this includes not only manganese ores and chromite but also silica-rich materials Read More

• EU H&S policy February Issue 2006

  SMEs are at the core of the EU’s entrepreneurship policy revamp. Michelle Wyart-Remy, IMA Europe General- Secretary, describes the problems industrial minerals SMEs may encounter when facing the EU health and safety programme. Read More

• Ceramic tiles February Issue 2006

  Tile manufacture has shifted in recent years towards low cost producing regions such as Asia and Eastern Europe.  This presents challenges for ceramic industrial minerals suppliers Read More