Where does the mysterious high -purity quartz come from?

quartz

(Quartz) is a very common mineral in our daily life. The ingredients are SIO2, the single crystal of SIO2 is crystal, and polycrystals form chalcedony and agate. The ordinary glass we usually see is SiO2 without crystal structure. The sand on the beach is basically composed of quartz and long stone. I believe that everyone is not unfamiliar with quartz. However, in recent years, with the promulgation of the "core" order in the United States and the rise of quartz stock prices, quartzs have changed, setting off "high pure quartz sand fever." What is high pure quartz? What is the difference between it and our common quartz? What is the sand that can be used for chips?

quartz

01

What is high pure quartz?

High pure quartz refers to quartz and its products with extremely high purity of SiO2 and extremely low impurities. It is widely used in semiconductor, photovoltaic, optical fiber, precision optics, advanced lighting equipment, new glass and other industries. However, because different industries need different quality quartz, high pure quartz has no universal quality evaluation indicators. Different people have different definitions. Earlier studies believed that the impurities of high pure quartz should be less than 50 × 10-6, that is, quartzs with SiO2 purity greater than 99.995%are high pure quartz. The Norwegian Geological Survey bureau proposed more detailed indicators that not only the total impurities were less than 5 % of the total impurities, but also the content of AL should be less than three -one -one -one -one -one -one -one -one -100,000th. The content should be less than eight millionth, the content of Li and CA should be less than 5 millionth, the content of the Fe should be less than 3 millionth, the content of P should be less than two million, the content of B shall be less than less than one millionth. millionth. In 2014, FLOOK proposed new quality indicators based on market industrial demand, thinking that SiO2 purity is 99.95%and the total impurities content less than five in 10,000 is high pure quartz, and quartzs with a purity of 99.5%to 99.8%can meet semiconductors to meet semiconductors. The requirements for the production industry of fillers, fiber, and LCD screens can be used in the transparent glass industry with a purity of less than 99.5%.

Chinese scholars in our country believe that quartzs with SiO2 purity greater than 99.9%are high -purity quartz. In recent years, the new glass industries such as the emerging photovoltaic glass and ultra -white floating glass have reduced the purity requirements of SIO2. Therefore, in a comprehensive indicator system, in the case of considering the quality of raw ore, testing methods, existing purification processes and industry quality requirements, the standard of high pure quartz adopted by my country is: SiO2 purity is more than 99.9%of quartz.

In the process of natural crystals, quartz often mixed with trace impurities, mainly vein stone minerals, parcels, and lattice impurities in the crystal gap. Like the rivers sand and natural sand we usually contain too much impurities, the silicon content of river sand is generally 65%~ 85%, and the silicon content is too low to be used for the production of chips. The type and content of impurities will affect the performance of the quartz. It cannot be used for the photovoltaic industry. Therefore, when producing high pure quartz, raw ore must be purified, and AL, K, NA, LI, CA, MG, FE, Mn, Cu, Ni, B, P, etc. must be reduced as much as possible. The content of impurities.

Compared with ordinary glass, the ultra-white glass is crystal clear, with a high light transmission rate, and has a very low iron content (FE2O3 mass score does not exceed 150 × 10-6). 10, even lower, when the iron content exceeds the standard, the glass made not only decreases transparency, but also shows yellow -green. And the ultra -white glass is more secure. Its self -explosion rate is only about one in 10,000, much lower than ordinary glass (the self -explosion rate is about three thousand). It is especially suitable for building important buildings and high -rise buildings. The Beijing Olympic Games "Bird's Nest", "Water Cube" stadium, the "China Pavilion" of the Shanghai World Expo, and the Beijing National Grand Theater, Nanjing China Art Center, etc. all have ultra -white glass. Therefore, in terms of impurities and silicon content requirements, the new glass industry and semiconductor industry will require stricter and harsh.

Quartz crystal display transparency

Strictly speaking, Gao Pure quartz is not a kind of mineral, but an ore such as crystal, pulse quartz, quartz rock, granite, and other ore as a product that is purified by raw materials. This high -purity quartz sand does not exist in nature, and it needs to be used in semiconductor manufacturing after mining and purification from quartz ore. Therefore, the mine that can purify the production of high -purity quartz is called high -pure quartz raw ore. The most ideal choice for preparing high -pure quartz sand is high -purity quartz ore raw materials. Quartz or quartz veins are common, but high -purity quartz ore, especially high -purity quartz ore with economic mining value.

Ordinary silica mine

High pure quartz sand is an indispensable raw material for chip manufacturing. It is the material basis of high -end products in the silicon industry, while high -pure quartz raw materials are extremely scarce. my country is rich in silicon resources, but most of the minerals are ordinary silica mine, which are used for ordinary glass, stone, and building sand. At the same time, due to the limitations of ore quality, the products produced are mainly low -end and high pure quartz. For high -pure quartz sand, raw ore and high -end quartz products, they rely on imports every year. Therefore, we must understand the distribution and development status of global high -pure quartz raw ore. At present, high -pure quartz raw ingredients are mainly distributed in 7 countries including the United States, Norway, Australia, Russia, Mauritania, China, and Canada. Except for China, the high -purity quartz raw material resources of Sprure Pine Mine in the United States are the largest, exceeding 10 million tons; Wang Jiuyi, 2021; Table 1). Global high -purity quartz raw material mine distribution map (quoted from Wang Jiuyi, 2021)

Table 1 The current status of the resource distribution and development status of global high -pure quartz raw materials (quoted from Wang Jiuyi, 2021)

02

The distribution of high -pure quartz raw materials and ore in the world's seven major countries

1.

U.S.

1.1 Spruspan Mine

Spruce Pine is located in the town of Sptuuspan, Mitchell County, western, western, North Carolina. The mining area has a long history of mining for more than 100 years. The content of the impurities of quartz is extremely low. After being purified by mechanical and chemicals, the high -purity and ultra -pure quartz made are mainly used for semiconductor crystals, precision optical glass, and photovoltaic and lighting industries. The mine provides more than 90%of the world's demand for high -pure quartz sand, and is even the only source of the only source for a long time. In 2009, the BBC called this place "Nelson, the most strategic -valuable square acre on the earth" (2009).

Speruus Pine Mine

1.2 Bowil Mine

Boville Mine is located in Bovill, Latah County, Latah County, northern Edhata. After analysis of electronic probes, the purity of the quartz crystals in the ore was greater than 99.9%. In 2010, I-Minerals (INC.) Completed pre-effective research and developed a high-pure quartz sand product with a purity of 99.9%to 99.997%. The volume of proven resources of the potassium and quartz of minerals is 4.378 million tons, and the amount of control resources is 8.857 million tons, a total of 13.235 million tons (I-Minerals, 2020A). Bobville ore has huge amounts of high pure quartz resources, and the purity and processing of ore is less difficult. Using traditional floating purification process, high pure quartz sand can be produced.

High pure quartz ore

2.

Australia

Australia's quartz resources are very rich, mainly distributed in northern Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. Among them, northern Queensland is the main source of high -purity quartz raw ore. At present, Lighthouse, Sugarbag Hill, White Springs, Quartz Hill and other mineral beds.

2.1 Lighthouse Mining

The mine is located in Georgetown in northern Queensland. EineSleigh Town is 16km southwest of the mining area and is the nearest town. The lighthouse mining is composed of two -like lighthouses in east and west, and the floor of the Lighthouse is 440m higher than the floor, so it is named after. The mineral area is pure, transparent or milky, and block, and is filled in the fault nearly upright. After testing the purity of the ore of the East and West ore> 99.9%, the content of the main impurities AL, Ti, FE, P, and CA is low. After simple mechanical purification, the purity can reach more than 99.95%. High -quality high -purity quartz raw ore.

Lighthouse ore (quoted from Rockfire Resources official website)

2.2 Sugarbuki Mountain Mine

The mine is located in Georgetown, with a northwest of about 25km from the town of George, and 60km from the lighthouse ore east. The quality of the ore is extremely high, and the purity of the original SIO2 can reach more than 99.99%. The results of the 2016 census show that the mineral body is about 600m in length, the average thickness is 20m, and the drilling depth reveals the depth of the ore body by 60 ~ 80m (alper, 2019). Sampling testing and mining purification experiments can be made to make high pure quartz sand purity reaching 99.995%~ 99.999%, to meet the quality requirements of the solar and semiconductor industry. At present, the sugarbukishan mine has not been mining and producing high pure quartz sand, but the scale of the resource volume of its proven and control can be considered in open -air.

Sugarbuki Mining Area

2.3 Baiquan and Lingshan Mine Mine

From the Town of George to Mt.Surprise (Mt.Surprise), Baiquan and Quartet Mine are distributed along Highway 1 of Mt.Surprise. The minerals are hot liquid quartz veins. The quality of the ore of Baiquan Mine is excellent, and the purity of the raw material SIO2 is more than 99.99%. The purity of the ore ore of the quartz mountain is greater than 99.5%, and the number of high -purity quartz resources reaches 14 million tons, and the scale of resources is huge. The purity of high -pure quartz sand produced by Baiquan Mine covers 99.99%~ 99.999%, and 30,000 tons of high -pure quartz sand, which is used in the field of photovoltaic and semiconductor industry. At present, the quartz mountain mine has not yet entered the mining period. Along Highway 1

2.4 Kreisk Mine

The mine is located in the Creswick district in southern Victoria, Australia. The mine is a gold ore tail mine type, consisting of the tailings abandoned by the golden mine in the 19th century (Hughes, 2013). The ore is a quartz gravel of 6 to 200mm in the tailings. It has excellent quality and low impurities. Especially the B and P content are very low. It can be used for LCD display, photovoltaic, semiconductor, optical glass and other industries. After the Australian Federal Science and Industry Research Organization (CSIRO) uses traditional machinery and chemical purification process, the purity of high -pure quartz sand SIO2 can reach 99.995%.

Crescik Mine

3..

Russia

On the east side of the Ural Mountains in Russia, there are two high -pure quartz minerals, namely the Saranpaul of the Saranpaul of the Agae, and Kyshtym Mine in South Ural. Among them, Kashtem is large and its development is high. Its high -pure quartz products have excellent quality and have a certain proportion in the international market.

3.1 Kashtem Mine

Kashtem Mine is located in Kyshtym in Chelyabinsk, Russia, 100km southeast. The mine is a thermal vein quartz type. The total length of the mining area is 15km, 1 ~ 3km wide, with an area of ​​20km2, and quartz reserves of 1.36 million tons. Mine development began in the 1960s and 1970s, and has been more than 50 years. Early mining was mainly used in traditional industries such as building materials and glass. After 2011, the production of high pure quartz sand began. In 2022, the production capacity is expected to reach 6,000 tons/year, and the mine can meet the 30 -year service life of full load production.

Quartz mine

3.2 Sarah Paul Mine

The Sarah Paul Mining is located in the northwest of Berezovsky Distrib (Berezovsky Distriba) in Russia, Russia-man Essence The mine is a thermal vein quartz type. The ore is translucent -transparent, glass luster. According to the exploration report of the 2014 mining area, the resource of high pure quartz is 330,000 tons (Development Corporation JSC (2017). In addition, there are many quartz veins that have not been exploited outside the mining area, and the long -view resource volume may be more considerable.

Sarah Paul area

4. 4..

Mauritania

4.1 Um Aquinonine Mine

The mine is located in the Dakhlet Nouadhibou province in western Mauritania and 130km from Nouadhibou port west. The mine is a thermal vein quartz type. The ore is light gray translucent, smooth and transparent, and the SiO2 content of some sampling ore is greater than 99.8%. The ore exposed on the surface shows a large lump of lithosol, which is covered with a small amount of red soil. The quantity of quartz's inference is 50 to 10 million tons (Feytis, 2010), but due to the lack of drilling verification and test analysis, and necessary mineral preparation experiments, the resources of high pure quartz raw materials are unknown. As of now, no valid mining activities have been carried out.

Um Aquinine Mine

4.2 Chami Mine

Chami Mining is located in the east of Dakhlet Nouadhibou, 20km from Um Aquinonine. The cause of the mine, the type of ore, the fence, and the existing characteristics are similar to the Um Aquinine ore. The ore is translucent, smooth and transparent, and the ore SIO2 content is 98% to 99.9%. The high -purity quartz raw material proven reserves of high -purity quartz raw materials of the surface of the surface of the surface are 725,000 tons; the ore bodies below 2.7m can extend to 8m, and the proven reserves have room for further expansion.

Memoritania high -quality quartz mineral

5.

Canada

In the coastal zone of Johan Beetz Bay, the southeast of Quebec, Canada, 10 thermal vein quartz ores in the north -south west are exposed, namely Johnbiz high pure quartz raw ore. The results showed that the SIO2 content of the ore was 98.7%~ 99.6%, and the average content of impurities B and P was less than 0.25 × 10-6 and 0.2 × 10-6, respectively, which could be used to produce optical quartz pupa. After being included in the loss of mining, the high -purity quartz control resources of the 2nd pulse and No. 9 pulse mines were 1.743 million tons and 507,000 tons, respectively, with a total of 2.25 million tons (BATHALON, 2014). Johan Beetz Bay coast zone

6.

Norway

As a long -term mountain country in north and south, Norwegian quartz resources are very rich, and they have global quartz industry giants such as TQC and Elkem ASA. Based on the test data of the domestic quartz ore, the Norwegian Geological Survey also proposed a set of high -pure quartz quality evaluation indicators based on lattice impurities elements (Müller et al., 2007; Müller et al., 2012). At present, the Drag Mine in the north and Nesodden in the south are Norway's main high -purity quartz raw materials.

6.1 Drag Mine

Drag Mine is located near the village of Drag (DRAG) on the west side of Tingsfjord (DRAG) west of Norway. composition. The quartz crystal is pure, with an average particle size of 6mm. The elements of lattice impurities such as AL, Ti, Li, and B have reached the quality requirements of high -purity quartz raw materials (Müller et al, 2012). The mining of Dratag Mines began in 1907. Early mines mined the potassium stones in Weijing rocks in an open -air way. By 1996, mining production was used in high pure quartz sand for optics, lighting equipment, and photovoltaic.

Geological Map of Drag Mining Area

(Quote from müller et al., 2012)

6.2 Needon Mine

Nesodden is located in Kvinnherad, Hoidland County, southwest of Norway. The ore body is about 580m in length, 15m wide, and extends 150m. The quartz crystals in the ore are large. As of now, Noson High Pure quartz ore has not been used. However, the mine has a considerable impact on the high pure quartz sand and the product industry. The amount of resources in the mine and the reserve resources of the high -purity quartz areas are quite abundant. In the northern section of the broken belt, KVALVIK heat liquid quartz ore was also found. The amount of resources was inferred by 700,000 tons. The ore quality is similar to the Needon ore, which can be used as high pure quartz raw materials.

Geological Map of Needo Mining Area

(Quote from Axel Müller et al., 2012)

7.

China

In recent years, some quartz sand mining companies in my country are striving to develop the purification technology of high -purity quartz, making breakthrough progress. High -quality thermal vein quartzs in Hubei Hunchun, Jiangsu East China Sea, Anhui Jingde, Taihu and other places may have the potential of high -purity quartz raw materials (Jiao Lixiang, 2019). The Lingyu Mountains Quartz Mine is located in Hengcar Town, about 20km in the north south of Yichun County, Hubei Province. The results of the drilling sampling analysis show that the ore is almost all composed of quartz, and the crystal particle size is 1 ~ 2mm. Ore SiO2 purity is> 99.35%, Al2O3 <0.22%, and Fe2O3 <0.02%. At present, Lingshan Mountain quartz ore uses open -air mining, and its design ore is the annual mining of 15,000 tons of ore.

Chinese high pure quartz sand

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