Papers - Olivine as a Source of Magnesium Chloride (T. P. 1484)

Olivine is considered a valuable potential source of metallic magnesium in the chloride electrolytic process. Treatment of olivine with hydrochloric acid can be carried out under conditions that prevent the formation of gelatinous silicic acid, which would inhibit the reaction by forming a covering around the ore particles. It is our hypothesis that the formation of gelatinous silicic acid is avoided by the dehydrating action of the magnesium chloride, which takes up water to form a series of hydrates and leaves the silicic acid in granular condition. Leaching serves to separate the magnesium chloride from the silicic acid and unattacked ore, which can be treated with fresh acid in successive steps until extraction is essentially complete. The leach solution can be i purified by the addition of caustic magnesia and the precipitated impurities removed by decantation or filtration. The resulting magnesium chloride contains: Fe, less than 0.001 Per cent; Mn, 0.012 ; per cent; Ni, none. Chlorination† of olivine has two major defects: (1) a large part of the chlorine goes to form silicon and iron chlorides, (2) the anhydrous magnesium chloride is held by absorption in the finely divided silica. SupplY It is well known that olivine, a silicate of magnesium and iron, is present in large amounts in several localities in the United States. The largest deposits occur in the southeast and on the Pacific Coast.' The southeastern deposits were surveyed by Lewis2 in 1896 and by Hunter3 in the period 1933-1940 It is estimated that high-grade olivine, conveniently located with regard to transportation and power, is present in excess of 230 million tons above local drainage level in western North Carolina and north Georgia. Previous Technical Work In the past few years, olivine has attracted considerable attention in the refractory field. In the chemical processing industry, however, it has long been thought axiomatic that the cost of processing silicates is an economic barrier to their utilization, especially where more reactive minerals, such as carbonates, oxides or salts, are available. This attitude is not entirely justified in connection with olivine. unlike most silicates, olivine is readily attacked by acids, chlorine and other reagents without resorting to fusion to break down the silicate structure. Olivine has been suggested as a raw material for making epsom salt by roasting with pyrites.4 Other processes include acid treatment6 and digestion with calcium chloride.6 Recently a small plant was built near Webster, N. C., for making epsom salt from olivine by treatment with sulphuric acid. This plant is now in commercial operation, producing approximately two tons per day. Olivine is also receiving attention from the fertilizer industry as an inexpensive source of soluble magnesium.