General Description:
Vermiculite {(Mg, Fe, Al)3(Al, Si)4O10(OH)2 - 4H2O, Hydrated Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide} is an important member of the Montmorillonite/Smectite Group, members of which also belong to the larger general group known as the Clays. Vermiculite is also sometimes placed in the Mica Group, although recent analysis has excluded it from this group. Vermiculite is basically overly hydrated biotite or phlogopite. Natural specimens originated as these minerals and later altered to vermiculite through weathering or hydrothermal processes. Vermiculite typically forms small platy mica like crystals. These crystals contain water in their structures and when heated to above 870C, the water turns into steam causing the crystals to expand rapidly. The volume increase can be 2000 to even 3000%.
Appearance: Flakes or powder
Applications
Vermiculite is very useful for many industrial purposes. It is very lightweight, chemically non-reactive, fire resistant and odorless. Vermiculite can be used to soak up such toxic liquids as fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides. It is this ability that is also being put to good use as a bedding for pets and livestock. In addition, vermiculite can be used in concrete and ceramics as a heat resistant additive.
Important Properties
Vermiculite is usually brown to golden brown, also white, colorless or yellow. Luster is pearly to greasy. Its Crystals are translucent and Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m. Its Crystal Habits include pseudohexagonal tabular crystals or "books", also found in compact or lamellar masses or microscopic crystals. The Cleavage is perfect in one direction, basal. Fracture is uneven to lamellar. The Hardness is 1.5 (can sometimes leave marks on paper). The Specific Gravity is 2.3 (below average). Its crystals expand to many times their original volume when heated. Best Field Indicators are softness, color, luster and expandability when heated.
Grades
Size Densities Equivalent names/designations
mm in kg/cu m lb/cu ft System A System B
16 5/8 down 56-72 3.5-4.5 NA Premium (6)
8 5/16 down 64-85 4.0-5.0 1 Large (4)
4 5/32 down 72-90 4.5-5.5 2 Medium (3)
2 0.08 down 75-112 4.7-7.0 3 Fine (2)
1 0.04 down 80-144 5.0-9.0 4 Superfine (1)
0.5 0.02 down 90-160 5.6-10.0 5 Micron (0)
In addition to the standard range of vermiculite product above GREAT WALL MINERAL can manufacture vermiculite grades tailored to customers specific requirements.
Jumbo bags: 1 cubic meter, 1.2 Metric Tons
Supplier: Perlite (low sparkling) foundry grade
Supplier: High quality vermiculite for industrial, agricultural, and construction applications.
Services: Export, product sourcing, bulk packaging (jumbo bags), logistics coordination, and support with documentation for international buyers.
Supplier: Clays for refractories and pottery, quartz, silica sand, dolomite, limestone, feldspar, soda ash, caustic magnesia, magnetite, chromite (various grades), china clay, vermiculite, asbastos industrial minerals
Supplier: Starch, industrial minerals, viz raw kyanite, vermiculite felsite and other industrial minerals
Services: Manufacturer
Buyer: Industrial minerals and starches
Supplier: Clays for refractories and pottery, quartz, silica sand, dolomite, limestone, feldspar, soda ash, caustic magnesia, magnesite, chromite (various grades), china clay, vermiculite, asbastos industrial minerals
Buyer: Graphite electrodes
Supplier: Industrial chemicals and minerals, precipitated silica, silica fume , micro silica,
silica powder, quartz, metakaolin, rice husk ash, silica sand, vermiculite ,
sdium silicate, activated alumina, magnesium silicate, vermiculite, edible oils , coconut oil , virgin coconut oil , RBD coconut oil
Supplier: All industrial related minerals like feldspar, quartz, garnet, dolomite, mica, vermiculite
Buyer: Clay, talc, barite
