Olivine Sand & Lump Flux

Natural magnesium iron silicate rock and sand for blast furnace slag conditioning, foundry sand and refractories

Olivine under HS 2530.90 is a natural magnesium iron silicate mineral ((Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄, predominantly forsterite) prized by primary steelmakers, foundries and refractory plants for its refractory stability, high melting point (1,890°C for pure forsterite) and concentrated magnesium oxide content. In blast furnace ironmaking, olivine acts as a direct slag-conditioning flux and sinter binder. Steelmakers running high-alumina iron ores (common across South Asia and China) face viscous blast furnace slags (Al₂O₃ > 18–22%) that impede furnace permeability and increase coke rates; adding olivine introduces active MgO (48–50%) that depolymerises the slag melt, optimizes ternary basicity ((CaO+MgO)/SiO₂) to 1.15–1.25, elevates softening temperatures above 1,200°C, and suppresses reduction degradation index (RDI). Crucially, unlike raw dolomite flux (CaCO₃·MgCO₃), which releases roughly 45% CO₂ during endothermic calcination, olivine is a carbonate-free mineral with loss on ignition below 1.0%, saving approximately 10 to 15 kg of metallurgical coke per tonne of hot metal and reducing carbon intensity.

In foundry applications, olivine sand replaces silica sand for high-integrity castings, especially austenitic manganese steels (Hadfield steel), carbon steels and non-ferrous alloys. Because olivine contains no free crystalline quartz, it eliminates occupational silicosis risks and exhibits a linear, predictable thermal expansion without the disruptive alpha-to-beta quartz phase inversion at 573°C, preventing sand expansion defects, veining and rat-tails. Additional applications include electric arc furnace (EAF) eccentric bottom tap-hole (EBT) filler sand, refractory mortar mixes, and mineral carbonation for accelerated carbon capture. Norway is the world's preeminent producer: Sibelco Nordic's Gusdal quarry at Åheim (Møre og Romsdal) operates Europe's largest deposit with multi-century reserves, loading bulk Supramax and Panamax carriers at its dedicated Raubergvik deepwater fjord terminal (14.5 m draft, 1,000–1,500 t/h shiploader). CBIL is a commodity brokerage company and brokers olivine sand, grit and lump between European and Nordic miners and overseas blast furnaces, foundries and mineral distributors, on FOB and CFR terms. Parcels ship in geared Supramax and Ultramax shiploads (35,000 to 55,000 MT) for primary steel mills, and in 1.0 to 1.5 MT big bags in shipping containers for foundry consumers. Offers stand against certified SGS or Bureau Veritas lab assays of MgO, SiO₂, Fe₂O₃, Al₂O₃, loss on ignition, grain fineness (AFS 45–60 for sand, 10–40 mm for lump) and IMSBC Code Group C carriage declaration.

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Excluded origins are not offered, including product re-exported, blended or re-processed through a third country. Every lot moves with a certificate of origin naming the producing plant, mine or grower country, and nothing is quoted before the seller and loading point are known.