Olivine is a silicate material composed of magnesium, iron, silicon, and oxygen. It is valued as both an ornamental stone and as an industrial mineral.
Olivine is mined from both surface deposits and underground mines. The largest global producer of olivine is Norway, which extracts it from an open pit mine on the coast of the Norwegian Sea. This deposit contains some of the highest quality olivine in the world. Other major producing countries include China, South Africa, Mexico, Australia, and the United States.
In surface mining, olivine is extracted through open pit mining or quarrying. Like other minerals found near the surface, olivine deposits are first identified through geological surveys and surface mapping. Prospecting drill holes may also assist in assessing the size and accessibility of the deposit. Once an adequate olivine reserve is located, the overlying rock and soil is removed using heavy equipment and explosives to expose the mineral ore. Excavators or haul trucks are used to transport the olivine bearing rock to processing facilities.
Underground mining is used when the olivine deposits are too deep to access through open pit mining. Tunnels are drilled into the earth to reach the olivine rich layers. Drilling and blasting break up the ore, and it is brought to the surface for further processing. Underground mining can access deposits hundreds of meters below the ground.
Regardless of the mining method, the unearthed olivine requires additional milling and processing. It needs to be crushed and screened to achieve the desired size fractions. The ore may also be washed to remove impurities. Olivine used for industrial purposes requires additional processing compared to gemstone grade material. Industrial olivine is milled to a fine powder, classified into different particle sizes, and further purified through processes like magnetic separation.
Finally, the refined olivine products are packaged and distributed around the world. High quality gemstones go to jewelry makers and collectors. Industrial grade olivine serves many uses from foundry sand to soil amendment. By beginning deep underground or buried in lava flows, olivine undergoes an extensive journey to end up in consumer products. Advanced mining and processing methods allow this intriguing mineral to be extracted and utilized in our modern world.
