Mining guide · 20 articles
Potash, Phosphate, Quartz and Industrial Minerals
Industrial minerals rarely make headlines, but they end up in fertiliser, glass, electronics and building materials. This set covers potash and phosphate, the two big fertiliser minerals, along with quartz in its many forms and the mica group, including biotite, plus feldspar.
Prospectors and geologists will find notes on how quartz crystals form, how to tell pyrite from galena in a quartz vein and where giant crystals turn up. Investors and agribusiness readers can follow potash exporters, Canadian producers such as Gensource in Saskatchewan, and the way phosphate rock is mined, processed and used.
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Giant crystals and quartz veinsBiggest Quartz Crystal in the World: Innovations in MiningThe biggest quartz crystal in the world and what it tells us about mineral extraction.Read article →Quartz types and usesQuartz Crystal, Rock Crystal Quartz: 7 Timeless UsesRock crystal quartz and its seven uses, from watches and electronics to glass and chips.Read article →Potash and phosphateExports Large Amounts of Potash: Market TrendsWhich countries export the most potash, and how prices and production shifts affect crop growers.Read article →
Case studies from our exploration projects
All case studies →Farmonaut case studyRapid Satellite Bentonite Exploration in IndiaRapid bentonite exploration for a site in India.Read the case study →Farmonaut case studyProven 12 g/t Non-Alluvial Gold Detection Using Satellite Technology in Kenya12 g/t non-alluvial gold confirmed in Kenya after satellite targeting.Read the case study →Farmonaut case studyMapping Nigeria’s Lithium with Satellite Remote SensingLithium-bearing zones mapped across Nigeria by remote sensing.Read the case study →Farmonaut case studyCobalt Mapping in DRC: Satellite-Based Mineral ExplorationCobalt targets mapped in the DRC from satellite data.Read the case study →
Potash and phosphate
5 articles
Gensource Potash Stock: Potash SK Innovation & GrowthGensource Potash’s new Saskatchewan project and how its stock follows that project’s progress.Read article →Canadian Potash Companies: Trends in Potash Production and SustainabilityCanadian potash producers and their approach to sustainable mining and soil management.Read article →Potash Mosaic: Top 5 Mining Trends Shaping the Future of AgricultureFive potash mining trends and their likely effect on crop yields and the market.Read article →Mining and Metallurgy: Phosphate Mining Process TrendsHow phosphate is mined and processed, and the metallurgy changes affecting fertilizer supply.Read article →Phosphate Rock: 7 Essential Uses of Rock Phosphate MineralsSeven uses of rock phosphate, from fertiliser to animal feed, food additives and chemicals.Read article →
Quartz types and uses
6 articles
Types of Quartz Rock: 7 Powerful Industrial TrendsTypes of quartz rock and the industrial and gemstone trends behind demand for each.Read article →Types of Quartz Crystals: 7 Powerful Varieties Impacting IndustriesQuartz crystal varieties, from clear rock crystal to blue quartz, and their industrial roles.Read article →Rarest Type of Quartz: 7 Quartz Stone TypesThe rarest quartz types and the inclusions that make certain stones unusual.Read article →Clear Quartz Raw Crystal: Key Trends in the IndustryHow clear quartz forms in cavities and veins, and how artificial quartz is grown.Read article →Raw Milky Quartz Rock: Essential Crystal Uses & TrendsRaw milky quartz: its properties, extraction and industrial applications.Read article →The Appearance of Milky Quartz: Raw vs Clear Quartz DifferencesWhat sets milky quartz apart from clear quartz in appearance and processing.Read article →
Giant crystals and quartz veins
2 articles
Largest Quartz Crystal in the World: Big Clear Quartz AdvancesGiant clear quartz crystals weighing several tonnes, the pegmatite pockets they grow in and where they were found.Read article →Pyrite and Galena: Powerful Trends in Quartz VeinsTelling pyrite from galena in quartz veins, and what each can signal about gold, silver or lead.Read article →
Mica, feldspar and biotite
4 articles
Quartz and Mica: Essential Minerals and Their Top Industry UsesQuartz and mica compared, with their properties and uses in construction, farming and industry.Read article →Feldspar Quartz and Mica: 7 Key Mineral RolesSeven roles feldspar, quartz and mica play in mining, agriculture and infrastructure.Read article →Biotite Mica Mineral: 7 Key Biotite Mica Rock UsesBiotite mica identified, plus seven rock uses ranging from slow-release potassium to ore clues.Read article →Biotite Mica Uses: Top 7 Uses for Mica BiotiteUses of biotite mica in soil and forestry, including moisture retention and soil health.Read article →
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