Mineral Name: Feldspars (K, Na, and Ca Al-Silicates)
Chemical properties:
| Moh’s hardness | Cleavage | Occurs in | Color | Class | Chemical Composition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2 planes at 90° | Many kinds of igneous and metamorphic rocks and are abundant in some kinds of sedimentary rocks, | Light colored, white, cream to buff, or light gray | Silicates | Potassium feldspar is a general name that includes several varieties of KAlSisOg (e.g., orthodase, microcline, sanidine) |
As a group, the feldspar’s are certainly the most plentiful minerals in the Earth’s crust. They are the principal element of many kinds of igneous and metamorphic rocks and are plentiful in some kinds of sedimentary rocks.
Feldspar is fairly easy to identify due to its two good cleavages that intersect at essentially 90°, a Moh’s hardness of 6, and a vitreous luster. There are two principal varieties of feldspar plagioclase and potassium feldspar.
Potassium feldspar is a general name that includes several varieties of KAlSisOg (e.g., orthodase, microcline, sanidine). It comes in white, cream, light gray, and even green, but salmon pink is a common and often unique color.
Methods of Manufacture:
Feldspar lump material as it comes from the quarries is first crushed in a chaser mill and feldspar then being crushed, screened and converted into fines. The fines going to ball mills for their final grinding. The ball mills consist of steel cylinders revolving on a horizontal axis. A single load of feldspar is usually ground for four to six hours in these mills and in that time is reduced to a fineness of at least 200 mesh. The material is then ready for shipment either in bulk or in bags.
Feldspar Uses:
Feldspars are basically used as extenders and fillers in paints, rubbers, and plastics. It is having stable pH, high chemical inertness, high-quality dispensability, and good refractive index, resistance to frosting, abrasion resistive characteristics and low viscosity at high filler loading. Primarily Used in fine-milled paints grades.
In ceramic industries feldspar is considered the most important ingredient in the production of ceramics. It doesn’t have a definite melting temperature, as it melts slowly throughout various temperatures aiding crucial stage in the production process. They are generally used as fluxing catalysts to manufacture a glassy coating at low temperatures. They are also used as a source of alumina and alkalis in glazes.
In Welding industries Potassium feldspars are used in the coating of arc welding electrodes due to their good fluxing properties.
In Abrasive industries Feldspars is used as a bonding agent in the manufacture of wheels, abrasives, disc and various other shapes.
In fertilizer industries Potash is an important plant food which in fertilizers.
Different types of feldspar available with Intercity Enterprises are:
- Feldspar A Grade
- Feldspar B Grade