Spodumene Concentrate

Alternate Names: Tanco Spodumene Ore 200 mesh, Tanko Spod

Description: Low Melt Spodumene

Oxide	Analysis	Formula
Li2O	7.10%	0.94
K2O	0.60%	0.03
Na2O	0.30%	0.02
P2O5	0.40%	0.01
Al2O3	25.00%	0.97
Fe2O3	0.15%	-
MnO2	0.06%	-
SiO2	66.20%	4.37
SO4	0.20%	n/a
Oxide Weight		395.63
Formula Weight		396.42

Notes

This material was produced in the Cabot corporation tantalum mine Manitoba for many years, but as of 2012 it is no longer available. One material being sold as a substitute is SC7.0 Spodumene from Talison Lithium in Australia (on paper its chemistry is almost identical to this material).

This is classified as minus 200 mesh concentrate. Although 10% is plus 200 mesh, all of this is minus 180 mesh. It was promoted by the company as single source of both alumina and silica and the analysis they provided only added up to 33 (the rest was assumed to be SiO₂).
The company marketed the material to the steel industry as a casting powder and to the pyroceramics, glass, porcelain enamel, frit, glaze, abrasives, and waste vitrification industries.

They also had a standard 7.25% Li₂O grade (1% on 48), a 6.8% Li₂O grade (23% Al₂O₃, 55% passing 200 mesh) and a Spodulite grade (5% Li₂O, 20% Al₂O₃).

The company also made a low-foam version that created fewer bubbles in ceramic slurries (a foaming process involving soap is used in the manufacture).

Related Information

Links

URLs	http://www.amalgamet.com/Products/minerals.htm Description of material
Materials	Montebrasite Concentrate
Materials	SC 1.1 Spodumene
Materials	CGS 3.1 Spodumene
Materials	SC 1.2 Spodumene
Materials	UGS Spodumene
Materials	FSC 2.1 Spodumene
Materials	Foote Spodumene
Materials	Spodumene Spodumene is a lithium sourcing feldspar, an alternative to lithium carbonate to supply Li2O to ceramic glazes. Contains up to about 8% Li2O.
Materials	Australian Spodumene
Materials	SC7.0 Spodumene
Typecodes	Feldspar The most common source of fluxes for high and medium temperature glazes and bodies.

Data

Bulk Density lbs/cu. ft. (Packed)	84-120
Hardness (Moh)	6.5-7.0
Density (Specific Gravity)	2.8-2.9

By Tony Hansen
Follow me on

Got a Question?

Buy me a coffee and we can talk