‌Industrial Quartz: Unveiling Geological Origins and Diverse Applications

Quartz (SiO₂), a versatile mineral, holds strategic importance across various industries due to its unique properties. This article explores the geological origins and industrial applications of seven types of industrial quartz, highlighting their significance and potential.

‌1. Natural Crystal Quartz‌

• ‌Geological Origin‌: Predominantly found in granite pegmatites and hydrothermal veins, with Donghai, Jiangsu, China being a renowned source.
• ‌Characteristics‌: Colorless and transparent crystals, existing in limited reserves.
• ‌Applications‌: Utilized in handicrafts, optical lenses, and piezoelectric sensors. Its mining is restricted due to its rarity.

‌2. Vein Quartz‌

• ‌Geological Origin‌: Forms as vein ore bodies through the hydrothermal action of granite.
• ‌Characteristics‌: Dense blocks with SiO₂ content exceeding 98%, making it easy to mine.
• ‌Applications‌: High-purity quartz sand is processed into silicon micropowder, artificial quartz plates, and metal silicon.

‌3. Quartzite‌

• ‌Geological Origin‌: Results from regional metamorphism of quartz sandstone.
• ‌Characteristics‌: High hardness and purification difficulty. Abundant in Anhui and Qinghai, China.
• ‌Applications‌: Core raw material for metal silicon smelting.

‌4. Quartz Sandstone‌

• ‌Geological Origin‌: Formed by the cementation and solidification of siliceous clastic rock.
• ‌Characteristics‌: Quartz content above 95%, abundant resources in Sichuan and Shandong.
• ‌Applications‌: Used as raw material for glass and ceramics but not suitable for casting or as oil fracturing proppants.

‌5. Powder Quartz‌

• ‌Characteristics‌: Exists in a natural powder state with extremely fine particles and high SiO₂ content.
• ‌Distribution‌: Found in Jiangxi, Chongqing, and Guizhou, China.
• ‌Applications‌: Utilized in ceramics, insulating materials, and rubber fillers, expanding its use in emerging scenarios.

‌6. Natural Quartz Sand‌

• ‌Geological Origin‌: A long-term weathering product of granite or quartzite.
• ‌Distribution‌: Predominantly in Inner Mongolia and Shandong (with varying quality levels).
• ‌Applications‌: Best suited for foundry sand, 3D printing sand, and petroleum fracturing proppants.

‌7. Granite Quartz‌

• ‌Geological Origin‌: Quartz found in granite pegmatite, accounting for approximately 30%.
• ‌Characteristics‌: Contains coarse crystals with extremely low impurities, similar to the Spruce Pine deposit in the United States.
• ‌Applications‌: Serves as a core raw material for high-purity quartz, supporting the semiconductor industry.
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‌Industrial Relevance and Future Trends‌

China boasts rich quartz resources; however, high-purity quartz is often imported. With advancements in purification technology, the application of vein quartz and granite quartz in semiconductors and photovoltaics is reshaping the supply chain. Furthermore, powder quartz's nano-scale characteristics are creating new avenues for polymer composite materials. Understanding geological origins is crucial for optimizing resource development and technological transformations.