Magnéziumércek

Magnéziumércek are naturally occurring mineral substances from which magnesium can be economically extracted. These ores are the primary source of this essential element for industrial and commercial uses. The most important magnesium-containing minerals are found in sedimentary deposits and evaporite sequences.

The most significant magnéziumérc is magnesite (MgCO3), which is magnesium carbonate. Magnesite deposits are often found in metamorphic rocks or as a weathering product of magnesium-rich silicate minerals. Another crucial ore is dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2), a mixed carbonate of calcium and magnesium. Dolomite is abundant and widely distributed.

Other less common but still important magnéziumércek include brucite (Mg(OH)2), which is magnesium hydroxide, and carnallite (KMgCl3·6H2O), a hydrated potassium magnesium chloride often found in salt lakes and marine evaporites. Silicate minerals such as olivine ((Mg,Fe)2SiO4) and serpentine (a group of hydrated magnesium iron silicates) can also serve as sources of magnesium, though their extraction is often more complex.

The processing of these ores typically involves physical separation techniques like crushing and flotation, followed by chemical processes such as calcination to produce magnesium oxide or electrolysis to yield metallic magnesium. The global demand for magnesium, driven by its use in alloys, refractories, and chemical production, makes the efficient extraction from magnéziumércek vital.