|
|
|
Perlite
Is an amorphous glass mineral of volcanic
origin that expands and becomes porous when it is heated. When heated,
perlite can expand to as much as twenty times its original volume.
Perlite is known in industry in two forms:
- Crude perlite:
prepared by the crushing and screening of perlite into various size
fractions
- Expanded perlite:
perlite after it has been heated
Perlite has a limited number of applications such as ladle topping,
soap abrasive, polished, slag coagulant and as a silica source in the
production of calcium-silicate insulation material.
Links:
- U.S. Geological Survey,
Minerals Commodieties Summaries
- The Perlite Institute,
- The European Perlite and
European Vermiculite Association
Perlite Production
Thousand Tonnes
| |
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
2008 |
| Europe |
|
|
|
|
|
| Armenia |
29.996
|
49.963
|
50.000
|
35.000
|
35.000 |
| Greece |
1.053.388
|
1.075.129
|
1.039.150
|
900.373
|
861.157 |
| Hungary |
65.000
|
69.900
|
71.019
|
68.000
|
132.000 |
| Russia (Europe) |
56.000
|
55.000
|
52.000
|
45.000
|
45.000 |
| Slovakia |
16.000
|
8.500
|
10.560
|
13.000
|
15.500 |
| Turkey |
133.829
|
156.935
|
145.000
|
160.000
|
160.000 |
| total |
1.354.213
|
1.415.427
|
1.367.729
|
1.221.373
|
1.248.657
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Asia |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Iran
|
26.495
|
30.051
|
30.000
|
30.000
|
40.307 |
|
Japan
|
255.000
|
240.000
|
240.000
|
240.000
|
230.000 |
| Philippines |
7.200
|
4.409
|
4.000
|
4.515
|
4.593 |
| total |
288.695
|
274.460
|
274.000
|
274.515
|
274.900
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| America |
|
|
|
|
|
| Argentina |
20.000
|
21.991
|
25.146
|
35.838
|
26.545 |
| Mexico |
188.027
|
91.724
|
81.719
|
54.405
|
43.180 |
| United
States |
508.000
|
508.000
|
454.000
|
409.000
|
434.178 |
| total |
716.027
|
621.715
|
560.865
|
499.243
|
503.903
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Africa |
|
|
|
|
|
| South Africa
|
540
|
530
|
400
|
400
|
400 |
| total |
540
|
530
|
400
|
400
|
400
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Oceania |
|
|
|
|
|
| Australia |
2.100
|
2.000
|
4.000
|
7.000
|
7.000 |
| New Zealand |
5.600
|
7.310
|
3.552
|
7.873
|
6.000 |
| total |
7.700
|
9.310
|
7.552
|
14.873
|
13.000
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| WORLD TOTAL |
2.367.175
|
2.321.442
|
2.210.546
|
2.010.404
|
2.040.860
|
|
|
|
