Quartz deposit with properties similar to Spruce Pine discovered in China
Chinese geologists reported the discovery of a high-purity quartz deposit near the city of Shiyan in Hubei Province. They assessed the properties of purified quartz sand from the Xiaohuaguo deposit as very similar to IOTA-CG-type sand associated with the US Spruce Pine area in North Carolina. This was reported by the South China Morning Post, citing a study by Chinese scientists.
Purification results
Exploration and purification of quartz from the Xiaohuaguo deposit were carried out by researchers from the China University of Geosciences, the Wuhan Center of the China Geological Survey, and the Hubei Geological Bureau. The results of their work were published in the peer-reviewed Chinese-language journal Earth Science.
According to the study, the total impurity content in the purified quartz was 11.98 micrograms per gram. This is below the threshold of 50 micrograms per gram used to define high-purity quartz, as well as below 20 micrograms per gram, the indicator for the inner layer of solar quartz crucibles.
The authors also noted that the total content of 17 trace elements in the material did not exceed the established upper limits for high-purity quartz. The particle size, morphology, and characteristics of residual fluid inclusions in the purified sand were, in their conclusion, very similar to those of IOTA-CG quartz sand.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Potential for technology
High-purity quartz is a rare form of the mineral with silicon dioxide purity exceeding 99.9%. Due to its resistance to high temperatures and corrosion, high insulating properties, and low thermal expansion, it is used in the production of semiconductors, fiber-optic systems, new energy products, and in the aerospace industry.
In particular, this material is needed to manufacture fused quartz crucibles and other components used in the production of microchips and solar panels. China, despite significant volumes of high-tech production, is heavily dependent on imports of high-purity quartz, mainly from the United States.
No deep drilling was conducted during this exploration. However, based on the analysis, geologists assessed the deposit as likely medium-sized and having potential for use in high-tech fields.
