Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6.3:
Non-metallic minerals in the building industry
Mineral
Areas of use
Anhydrite, CaSO
4
Render; mortars; binders on building sites
Asbestos, Mg
3
Si
2
O
5
(OH)
4
Thermal insulation; reinforcement in concrete; render; mortars;
plaster and plastics
Borax, Na
2
B
4
O
7
.10H
2
O
Impregnation; fire retardant
Boric acid, B(OH)
3
Impregnation; fire retardant
Dolomite, CaMg(CO
3
)
2
Filler in plastics and paint; production of magnesium oxide
(MgO), glass and fibreglass
Gypsum, CaSO
4
.2H
2
O
Portland cement; gypsum cement
Graphite, C
Additive in sulphur concrete; oven lining; absorption layer for
solar energy
Limestone, CaCO
3
Cements; binder; constituent in rockwool; mineral paints;
ingredient in boards; filler; varnish and paint; glass and
fibreglass; source of slag in the metal industries
Potassium chloride/sylvite, KCl
Used to obtain potash and soda for the production of glass
Various calcium silicate minerals
Glass and glazing on ceramics
Kaolin, Al
2
Si
2
O
5
(OH)
4
Filler in plastics and paint
Magnesium oxide/periclase, MgO
Cement floor covering
Montmorillonite,
Al
4
Si
8
O
20
(OH)
4
+H
2
O
Waterproofing
Sodium chloride/halite, NaCl
Soda for the production of glass and waterglass; base for
hydrochloric acid used in the plastics industry
Olivine, (Mg, Fe)Si
2
O
4
Moulds for casting; filler in plastics
Silicon, SiO
2
: as quartz
Glass; Portland cement; glasswool; rockwool; surface finish on
roofing felt; aggregate; bricks; filler in paint and plastics
as fossil meal
Pozzolana; thermal insulation; filler
as perlite
Expanded for thermal insulation
Mica, different types
Fireproof glass (as in stove windows); expands to become
vermiculite
Sulphur, S
Constituent in concrete and render
Talc, Mg
3
Si
4
O
10
(OH)
2
Filler in plastic materials
Barite, BaSO
4
Colour pigment (lithopone)
Ilmenite, FeTiO
3
Colour pigment (titanium white); filler
