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Minerals
Special Issues
Mineralogical Characteristics and Purification Process of Quartz
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Mineralogical Characteristics and Purification Process of Quartz

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1629

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hongjuan Sun

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Guest Editor
Institute of Mineral Materials and Application, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Interests: mineralogical characteristics and purification process of quartz
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zijie Ren

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Guest Editor
School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: mineral processing; separation technology; minerals; mineral characterization; extraction and processing industry; clay minerals; quartz; diatomite
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Zengqing Sun

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Guest Editor
School of Minerals Processing & Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Interests: solid valorization; metallurgical pollutants control; sustainable construction materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yehao Huang

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Guest Editor
Henan Institute of Ultrapure Mineral Materials, Zhengzhou 450016, China
Interests: efficient separation of strategic minerals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

High-purity quartz (HPQ), defined by SiO2 content >99.99% and ultra-low trace elements, is a critical enabler of advanced technologies. Its exceptional properties—including high transmittance, thermal stability, and electrical insulation—underpin semiconductor manufacturing, photovoltaic (PV) cells, fiber optics, and emerging applications in quantum computing and aerospace. However, in securing economically viable HPQ, dual challenges are faced: the scarcity of premium quartz deposits with favorable mineralogy and the complex, energy-intensive purification processes required to eliminate lattice-bound contaminants (e.g., Al, Li, and B).

The following Special Issue addresses the entire HPQ value chain, from geological formation and deposit characterization to innovative purification technologies (e.g., acid leaching, thermal chlorination, and flotation) and cutting-edge applications. We welcome research on trace element behavior, novel beneficiation methods, sustainable processing, and quality control. Contributions elucidating HPQ’s role in the energy transition and high-tech industries are particularly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Hongjuan Sun
Prof. Dr. Zijie Ren
Prof. Dr. Zengqing Sun
Dr. Yehao Huang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • high-purity quartz
  • quartz purification/processing
  • trace element characterization
  • semiconductor materials
  • photovoltaic applications
  • quartz mineralogy/deposits
  • critical raw materials
  • advanced material purification
  • silicon-based technologies

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2837 KB  
Article
Research on the Purification Technology of Quartz from a Mining Area in Jiangxi by Acid Leaching
by Chali Wang, Guangshi Li, Xing Lin, Tianle Gao, Zhongya Pang, Chenteng Sun, Weifan Gao, Ronghua Zhang, Helin Xiao, Qian Xu, Xingli Zou and Xionggang Lu
Minerals 2025, 15(11), 1200; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111200 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 377
Abstract
Quartz purification is a key driver of the silicon-based industrial sector. This study used typical vein quartz from Jiangxi Province, China as a raw material to systematically investigated the occurrence states of impurities and conducted an in-depth chemical purification study. The effects of [...] Read more.
Quartz purification is a key driver of the silicon-based industrial sector. This study used typical vein quartz from Jiangxi Province, China as a raw material to systematically investigated the occurrence states of impurities and conducted an in-depth chemical purification study. The effects of various parameters on impurity removal via acid leaching were investigated. The results revealed distinct removal patterns: independent minerals were effectively removed with low-concentration acid; inclusion impurities were efficiently eliminated by optimizing temperature and acid concentration; and lattice impurities proved resistant to removal. The optimal acid-leaching conditions were identified as follows: 80 °C leaching temperature, mixed acid system of HF-HCl-H2SO4 (volume ratio 1:1:1), 7 wt% acid concentration, 6 h leaching time, and a 1:1 solid–liquid ratio. The removal efficiencies of Al, K, and Fe reached 77.0%, 87.5%, and 80.0%, respectively, and the product (the quartz particles after acid leaching) purity was elevated to 99.92%. Furthermore, this study clarified the influence of acid-leaching parameters on purifying high-aluminum low-iron quartz sand, providing a valuable theoretical basis and technical reference for the deep processing of similar quartz ores. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical Characteristics and Purification Process of Quartz)
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13 pages, 2837 KB  
Article
Waste Quartz Crucible Crystallization-Induced Purification to Prepare High-Purity Cristobalite Sand
by Tanlu Zhang, Yehao Huang, Hongjuan Sun, Yu Tang and Tongjiang Peng
Minerals 2025, 15(11), 1184; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111184 - 10 Nov 2025
Viewed by 456
Abstract
Waste quartz crucibles (WQCs), produced as by-products in the fabrication of monocrystalline silicon rods, have become a significant recycling target due to the rapid growth of the photovoltaic industry. WQCs serve as an excellent precursor for synthesizing high-purity cristobalite sand, with an SiO [...] Read more.
Waste quartz crucibles (WQCs), produced as by-products in the fabrication of monocrystalline silicon rods, have become a significant recycling target due to the rapid growth of the photovoltaic industry. WQCs serve as an excellent precursor for synthesizing high-purity cristobalite sand, with an SiO2 content exceeding 99.995%. This study introduces a novel approach that integrates high-temperature crystallization-induced purification with acid leaching to convert WQCs into cristobalite. We systematically investigated the effects of calcination parameters (temperature and time) on cristobalite formation and characterized the distribution of aluminum and titanium (Al/Ti) in pre- and post-crystallization samples using depth profiling techniques. The results indicate that WQCs can be completely transformed into cristobalite after calcination at 1600 °C for 6 h. Employing these optimized conditions (1600 °C for 6 h) not only achieves a rapid crystallization rate but also effectively drives the migration of Al and Ti impurities to the surface and crack regions of the cristobalite matrix. The crystallization process enhances the purification of WQCs by redistributing impurities during the phase transformation. Consequently, the resulting cristobalite sand achieves an SiO2 content exceeding 99.998% after acid leaching. Therefore, this work offers a dual solution to both enhancing the value of WQCs and mitigating the scarcity of high-purity quartz sand raw materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical Characteristics and Purification Process of Quartz)
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15 pages, 3223 KB  
Article
A Novel CaCl2 Chlorination Roasting Process for High-Efficiency Purification of Quartz Sand
by Tianle Gao, Guangshi Li, Xin Sheng, Chali Wang, Chenteng Sun, Zhongya Pang, Weifan Gao, Ronghua Zhang, Helin Xiao, Qian Xu, Xingli Zou and Xionggang Lu
Minerals 2025, 15(11), 1127; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15111127 - 28 Oct 2025
Viewed by 458
Abstract
To address the challenges of high impurity content and low whiteness in quartz sand, this study proposes a combined process of solid-state chlorination roasting followed by acid leaching. By using calcium chloride (CaCl2), a safe and low-cost solid chlorinating agent, mixed [...] Read more.
To address the challenges of high impurity content and low whiteness in quartz sand, this study proposes a combined process of solid-state chlorination roasting followed by acid leaching. By using calcium chloride (CaCl2), a safe and low-cost solid chlorinating agent, mixed with quartz sand for chlorination rofasting, the process effectively removes key impurity elements such as aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe), thereby enhancing the whiteness of the quartz sand. The quartz sand used in the experiment had an aluminum content of 4519 ppm and an iron content of 496.3 ppm. Under optimized conditions—a mass ratio of quartz sand to CaCl2 of 1:0.1, a roasting time of 2 h, and a roasting temperature of 1100 °C—the contents of aluminum and iron impurities were reduced to 422.62 ppm and 124.43 ppm, respectively, although the calcium content increased significantly. Subsequent acid leaching further reduced the residual impurities and the introduced calcium elements. The results demonstrate that the combined process achieved removal rates of 91.1% for aluminum, 90.7% for iron, and 50.2% for calcium, while increasing the whiteness to 85.2 Wb. This approach exhibits significant advantages compared to standalone acid leaching or chlorination roasting. This approach exhibits significant advantages compared to standalone acid leaching or chlorination roasting, thus offering a viable technical route for the production of high-quality panel-grade quartz sand. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mineralogical Characteristics and Purification Process of Quartz)
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