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Learn All About Feldspar

Feldspar

One of the most abundant minerals on earth – and the moon and Mars.

What is Feldspar?

The name feldspar encompasses a wide range of related minerals. Collectively, they are the most abundant group of minerals in the world, forming about 60 percent of the earth’s crust. Feldspars are particularly abundant in igneous rocks like granite. Most often, commercial feldspar is mined from pegmatite or feldspathic sand deposits.  

Fun Facts

  • The name feldspar is derived from the German word “feld” meaning field, and “spath” meaning a rock with no ore content.
  • Feldspar has been found on the moon and Mars.

Where to Find Feldspar

Uses for Feldspar

Glass Feldspar is an important ingredient in the manufacturing of glass. As a fluxing agent, it reduces the melting temperature of quartz and controls the viscosity of glass. The alkali content in feldspar lowers the glass batch melting temperature; thereby, reducing production costs.
Ceramics Feldspar is an important ingredient in the manufacturing of ceramics, along with clay. Feldspar does not have a strict melting point, since it melts gradually over a range of temperatures. This attribute facilitates the melting of quartz and clays. Feldspar improves the strength, toughness, and durability of ceramics used for table and sanitary wares.
Filters Feldspars are used as fillers and extenders in applications such as paints, plastics, and rubber. Beneficial properties of feldspars include good dispersibility, high chemical inertness, stable pH, high resistance to abrasion, low viscosity at high filler loading, and resistance to frosting. It is also used as an aggregate in roadways and tarmacs.
Enamel Coatings & Glaze Feldspar assists the enamel composition, assuring the absence of defects and the neatness of the end products: e.g., enamel coatings, ceramic glazes, ceramic tile glazes, sanitary ware, tableware, and electrical porcelain.
Flooring Feldspar is an essential mineral in the flooring industry. It is used as a flux to lower temperatures during the firing and formation of tiles.

Related Resources

USGS Feldspar Mineral Commodity Summary

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