Zinc silicate, also known as hemimorphite or calamine, is a blue to green mineral with various industrial uses. It can be found in natural deposits worldwide and is used in products such as fluorescent lamps, coatings to inhibit corrosion, and as a food additive. While excessive zinc intake can be harmful, exposure to the mineral itself is not necessarily harmful.
Zinc silicate is a zinc mineral and ore that has numerous industrial uses. It’s also known as hemimorphite, and is sometimes referred to by the old-fashioned name “calamine,” which can actually refer to zinc silicate or zinc oxide, two minerals that can be difficult to distinguish without inspection. This mineral is blue to green in color, with a crystalline structure, and can be found in natural deposits in different areas of the world. In addition to being used on its own, it can also be treated to extract the zinc it contains.
This mineral is transparent, although it can be clouded by the presence of impurities. Some regions contain large known deposits of this mineral, including Germany, Thailand, Belgium, parts of the United States, Poland, Siberia and Austria. Zinc silicate can be mined and processed in these regions and can also be mined and shipped in raw form to other locations for processing.
Historically, zinc silicate has been used as a food additive, added as an anti-caking agent to certain types of foods, but today this use is relatively rare. Another application where it continues to be used extensively is in the manufacture of products that need green phosphorus, such as fluorescent lamps and display tubes. In this case, it is doped with other minerals and can be made unsafe to handle by the doping agent.
This mineral is also used extensively in coatings designed to inhibit corrosion. Zinc silicate can be used in corrosion inhibitors such as those applied to ships, buildings and some types of vehicles. The mineral acts to help protect the underlying surface from corrosion, extending its life. Anticorrosive coatings are especially important when using something in environments where corrosion is likely; ocean-going boats, for example, are prone to damage from the salt water they pass through. May be known as “inorganic zinc silicate primer” when used in these settings.
Exposure to this mineral isn’t necessarily harmful, although excessive zinc intake can cause health effects. In fact, zinc is a necessary dietary mineral that many people absorb in adequate amounts following a balanced diet. Too much zinc can interfere with the absorption of other dietary minerals. Individual products made with this mineral can be harmful due to the additives used during production; dangerous products may carry warning labels to familiarize people with the precautions associated with the product.
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