Industrial Minerals – in the Classroom

Industrial minerals are a part of the Earth’s natural resources.

Mining these minerals responsibly and sustainably is essential to provide this and future generations of schools with the everyday educational facilities of the modern classroom.

Speciality minerals such as:

• Bentonite – providing a bonding effect for writing elements.
• Borates – imparting heat resistance to laboratory glassware.
• Calcium Carbonate – improving printing properties.
• Diatomite – providing anti-blocking in low-density polyethene films, e.g. in sandwich bags.
• Feldspar – producing lightning bulbs for study lamps.
• Kaolin – whitening chalk for blackboard use.
• Lime – an important ingredient in the building and construction sector.
• Plastic Clays – stimulating creativity in pottery and modelling clays.
• Silica – the main component of glass for TVs and computer screens.
• Talc – increasing polypropylene stiffness for food packing.

So now that you know a few more of the facts, you will understand why we at the Industrial Minerals Association (IMA-Europe) are actively promoting these essential minerals which play an important part in education.