Magnesite Mine Research Articles

Transfer of Potentially Toxic Elements in the Soil-Plant System in Magnesite Mining and Processing Areas

Mining activities, ore concentrations, and transport processes generate large amounts of pollutants, including hazardous elements, which are released into the environment. This work presents the results of experimental research aimed at evaluating the environmental risks of soil and plant contamination in two magnesite mining and processing areas in the Slovak Republic, and assesses the phytoremediation potential of dominant plant species. Eleven potentially toxic elements in the soil were investigated using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu, As, Ni, Mn, Mg, Fe) and atomic absorption spectrometry (Hg). In plants, potentially toxic elements were investigated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Cu, As, Cd, Pb) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (Cr, Zn, Mn, Mg). Selected soil parameters (pH, redox potential, and soil organic matter) were also investigated. Soil contamination was evaluated using environmental indices (geoaccumulation index—Igeo, enrichment factor—EF, contamination factor—Cf, degree of contamination—Cd). The phytoremediation potential of plants was evaluated using the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and the translocation factor (TF). The soil reaction in the studied areas indicated a strong alkalization of the soil. The soils in Jelšava-Lubeník were significantly contaminated with Cr, As, Mn, and Mg. The most significant enrichment based on the average values of EF was found to be in the order of Cd > Mg > Zn > Cu > As > Cr > Ni > Pb > Fe > Hg > Mn. The observed values of Cf and Cd indicated a high degree of soil contamination. In Košice, the soils were found to be significantly contaminated with Cr, Mn, Mg, and Ni. The most significant enrichment was found in the order of Cd > Mn > Ni > Pb > Zn > Mg > Cu > As > Fe > Cr > Hg. Very high Cf was found for Pb and Cr. The results of correlation and hierarchical cluster analyses suggest a similar origin of pollutants caused by significant anthropogenic interventions due to magnesite mining and processing. The investigated dominant plant species, Phragmites australis, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia repens, and Taraxacum officinale are able to accumulate high concentrations of the monitored potentially toxic elements without more serious load or damage. The results of BCF and TF confirmed that P. australis and T. officinale appeared to be suitable accumulators in the phytoextraction process. In the case of E. repens and A. stolonifera it was confirmed that they accumulate and immobilize high concentrations of potentially toxic elements, especially in the roots, establishing the suitability of their use in phytostabilization processes.

Formation process and thermodynamic mechanism of the crust in magnesite mining areas

Formation process and thermodynamic mechanism of the crust in magnesite mining areas

Hematite Nanoparticles Addition to Serpentine/Pyroxenes By-Products of Magnesite Mining Enrichment Process for the Production of Refractories

The present study focuses on the refractory upgrade and reuse of the mining wastes/by-products of the magnesite mine “Grecian Magnesite SA” (Chalkidiki, N. Greece), by the addition of hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanomaterial. These by-products were also examined after the application of thermal pre-treatment, i.e., treated at 850 °C for 30 min, prior to sintering. Different thermal treatments and times were applied, aiming to induce the formation of forsterite and attempting to examine the respective effects on the refractory properties of up-cycled products. The results indicate that hematite addition of 5 wt.% can improve the major refractory parameters of products, whereas the applied thermal pre-treatment was not found to be particularly beneficial. Nevertheless, the optimum results were realized after thermal treatment at 1300 °C for 120 min heating time, also revealing that the initial mineralogical content of the examined mineral wastes is a key factor for the subsequent upgrade ranking of the final product.

Application of Cement Treated Magnesite Mine Tailings as Subgrade

Application of Cement Treated Magnesite Mine Tailings as Subgrade

Physico-Chemical Study of Ecology and Water quality in Eastern, South-Eastern part of Central Indian Himalayas as a result of Magnesite Mining

Physico-Chemical Study of Ecology and Water quality in Eastern, South-Eastern part of Central Indian Himalayas as a result of Magnesite Mining

Investigation of Vegetation Changes in Different Mining Areas in Liaoning Province, China, Using Multisource Remote Sensing Data

Mining can provide necessary mineral resources for humans. However, mining activities may cause damage to the surrounding ecology and environment. Vegetation change analysis is a key tool for evaluating damage to ecology and the environment. Liaoning is one of the major mining provinces in China, with rich mineral resources and long-term, high-intensity mining activities. Taking Liaoning Province as an example, vegetation change in six mining areas was investigated using multisource remote sensing data to evaluate ecological and environmental changes. Based on MODIS NDVI series data from 2000 to 2019, change trends of vegetation were evaluated using linear regression. According to the results, there are large highly degraded vegetation areas in the Anshan, Benxi, and Yingkou mining areas, which indicates that mining activities have seriously damaged the vegetation in these areas. In contrast, there are considerable areas with improved vegetation in the Anshan, Fushun, and Fuxin mining areas, which indicates that ecological reclamation has played a positive role in these areas. Based on Sentinel-2A data, leaf chlorophyll content was inferred by using the vegetation index MERIS Terrestrial Chlorophyll Index (MTCI) after measurement of leaf spectra and chlorophyll content were carried out on the ground to validate the performance of MTCI. According to the results, the leaf chlorophyll content in the mines is generally lower than in adjacent areas in these mining areas with individual differences. In the Yingkou mining area, the chlorophyll content in adjacent areas is close to the magnesite mines, which means the spillover effect of environmental pollution in mines should be considerable. In the Anshan, Benxi, and Diaobingshan mining areas, the environmental stress on adjacent areas is slight. All in all, iron and magnesite open-pit mines should be monitored closely for vegetation destruction and stress due to the high intensity of mining activities and serious pollution. In contrast, the disturbance to vegetation is limited in resource-exhausted open-pit coal mines and underground coal mines. It is suggested that land reclamation should be enhanced to improve the vegetation in active open-pit mining areas, such as the Anshan, Benxi, and Yingkou mining areas. Additionally, environmental protection measures should be enhanced to relieve vegetation stress in the Yingkou mining area.

Soil contamination in the area of magnesite mining in urban and agrarian land

Contamination of soil with potential risk elements is one of the most pressing environmental problems in the world and causes serious environmental damage, but also threatens human health. This paper presents the results of research that was focused on analyzing soil contamination in the field of magnesite mining in urban and agrarian land nearby the former factory in Košice (Slovakia). Field and laboratory research were performed. Soil sampling was performed in 10 localities of the studied area. The content of risk elements (Cd, Hg, Pb, Cr, Zn, Cu, As, Ni, Mn, Mg) in soils was analyzed under laboratory conditions. The obtained data expressed as average concentrations of metals in sampled soils, as well as background values of the contents of monitored elements for the soils of the Slovak Republic, were used to assess soil pollution and identify the environmental risk. The acquired knowledge about the contamination of the soil with risk elements in the area around the former magnesite factory in Košice could help in the planning of remediation measures and improve the state of the environment in the studied area.

Particularities of Deformation Processes Solution with GIS Application for Mining Landscape Reclamation in East Slovakia

Mining activity influence on the environment belongs to the most negative industrial influences. Mine subsidence on the surface can be a result of many deep underground mining activities. The presented study offers the theory to the specific case of the deformation vectors solution in a case of disruption of the data homogeneity of the geodetic network structure in the monitoring station during periodical measurements in mine subsidence. The theory was developed for the mine subsidence at the abandoned magnesite mine of Košice-Bankov near the city of Košice in East Slovakia. The outputs from the deformation survey were implemented into Geographical Information System (GIS) applications to a process of gradual reclamation of whole mining landscape in the magnesite mine vicinity. After completion of the mining operations and liquidation of the mine company it was necessary to determine the exact edges of the mine subsidence of Košice-Bankov with the zones of residual ground motion in order to implement a comprehensive reclamation of the devastated mining landscape. Requirement of knowledge about stability of the former mine subsidence was necessary for starting the reclamation work. Outputs from the presented specific solutions of the deformation vectors confirmed the multi-year stability of the mine subsidence in the area of interest. Some numerical and graphical results from the deformation vectors survey in the abandoned magnesite mine of Košice-Bankov are presented. The obtained results were transformed into GIS for the needs of the Municipality of the city of Košice to the implementation of the reclamation activities in the mining territoryof Košice-Bankov.

Particularities of deformation processes solution with GIS application for mining landscape reclamation in East Slovakia

The influence of mining activity on the environment on the environment belongs to the most negative industrial influences. Mine subsidence on the surface can be a result of many deep underground mining activities. The present study offers the theory to the specific case of the deformation vectors solution in a case of disruption of the data homogeneity of the geodetic network structure in the monitoring station during periodical measurements in mine subsidence. The theory was developed for the mine subsidence at the abandoned magnesite mine of Košice-Bankov near the city of Košice in East Slovakia. The outputs from the deformation survey were implemented into geographical information system (GIS) applications to a process of gradual reclamation of whole mining landscape in the magnesite mine vicinity. After completion of the mining operations and liquidation of the mine company, it was necessary to determine the exact edges of the mine subsidence of Košice-Bankov with the zones of residual ground motion in order to implement a comprehensive reclamation of the devastated mining landscape. Requirement of knowledge about stability of the former mine subsidence was necessary for starting the reclamation work. Outputs from the present specific solutions of the deformation vectors confirmed the multi-year stability of the mine subsidence in the area of interest. Some numerical and graphical results from the deformation vectors survey in the abandoned magnesite mine of Košice-Bankov are presented. The obtained results were transformed into GIS for the needs of the municipality of Košice City to the implementation of the reclamation activities in the mining territory of Košice-Bankov.

Analysis of Heavy Metal Content in Soil and Plants in the Dumping Ground of Magnesite Mining Factory Jelšava-Lubeník (Slovakia)

A high content of heavy metals in the soil and plants of a magnesite mining area might cause serious damage to the environment and can be a threat to the health of the surrounding population. This paper presents the results of research that focused on analyzing the heavy metal content in soil and plants in the dumping grounds of the magnesite mining factory Jelšava-Lubeník (Slovakia). The analysis focused on the content of heavy metals in soil (X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, atomic absorption spectrometry), in plants (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry), and pH (1M KCl solution). The results showed that the soil in the study area was slightly acidic to strongly alkaline and the content of Cr, As, Mn, and Mg exceeded by several times the limit values for the Slovak Republic. The results of the hierarchical cluster analysis and the correlation analysis show that the grouped metals come from the same sources of pollution. The content of heavy metals in plants was high and the highest concentration was found in the roots of Elytrigia repens > Agrostis stolonifera > Phragmites australis and flowers of Phragmites australis. The findings confirmed the suitability of the used plants in the process of phytoextraction and phytostabilization. The acquired knowledge can help in planning and realization remediation measures and improve the state of the environment in areas exposed to magnesite mining.

Characterisation of magnesite mine tailings as a construction material.

Magnesite Mine Tailings (MMT) is a kind of waste produced during the mining of magnesite ore. Due to open cast mining process, huge amount of tailings are generated and dumped as open landfill that leads to numerous environmental hazards in the vicinity. MMT from Salem mine dump site, India, is collected, and a series of laboratory tests related to physical, chemical, mineralogical, mechanical, electrical and thermal properties have been conducted to characterise the MMT as construction material. Further, the results are compared with river sand and conventional coarse aggregates. The results indicate that the MMT can be used as aggregates in concrete for non-wearing surfaces, manufacturing of bricks, low thermal insulation panels, embankment and thermal insulation fills.

The Relationship Between Stress and Quality Life of Women Working in the Washing Tape of Magnesite Mine and Home Women

The Relationship Between Stress and Quality Life of Women Working in the Washing Tape of Magnesite Mine and Home Women

Application of spectral signature to analyze quality of magnesite ore mineral deposits and altered rocks of Salem, India

The developers of remote sensing and an advancement of imaging spectroscopy have provided an opportunity to extract compositional information of mineral mixtures. The geochemistry and mineralogical studies support ethical hold on spectral compositional studies of the ultramafic complex. The Salem ultramafic complex region covered by peridotite, dunite, and magnesite ore and surrounded by country rocks like hornblende biotite gneiss and charnockite. The rock samples include peridotite, dunites, metagabbro, and different kinds of magnesite ore minerals collected from the magnesite mines sections and outcrops exposure of reflectance spectral studies, geochemical analysis, and petrographical studies. Spectral measurements were carried out under 350–2500 nm spectral range from whole rock as well as powdered samples of different grain sizes using ASD Spectroradiometer. In the spectral analysis, the intensity of the carbonate bands assumed as fewer than three spectral ranges at 1900 nm, 2300 nm, and 2450 nm bandwidth and band depth based on absorbing characters and quality. The common absorption bands for dunites are 640 nm, 1050 nm, 1392 nm, 1910 nm, 2325 nm, and 2388 nm. In the shorter wavelength region, OH/Mn3+, OH/Fe2+, Mg-OH vibration and carbonate absorptions indicate the presence of ferric iron, olivine, and pyroxene overlapping spectra. Assessing the proportions of composition of rocks and ore minerals based on the spectral signature is a challenging task due to the minerals that exist in the form of intimate mixtures and variations. A thin section study reveals the presence of the major minerals in the rocks and the characteristics of ore minerals. The XRF geochemistry exposes major oxides and determines correlation of the geochemical elements using cluster and PCA analysis.

Impacts of Heavy Metal Enriched Tailings of Magnesite Mine on Surrounding Water Reservoirs

The prime aim of this study was to assess the physicochemical properties of water reservoirs from magnesite mine surrounding four sites (each direction) on three seasons such as summer, winter, and rainy season. The results attained from the physicochemical analysis states that all the surrounding water reservoir samples have been severely polluted by both essential and non-essential elements. Predominantly the water sample taken from the site I of three seasons has been severely affected by the metal pollutants. The site I water sample unacceptable (mg L-1) physicochemical properties such as turbidity (16.20±1.3; 15.23±1.8; 18.29±1.5), conductivity (2742.30±2.7; 2652.24±2.1; 2785.25±2.1), TDS (2085.13±4.3; 2024.15±2.1; 2113.10±1.2), TSS (712.21±2.1; 692.31±1.12; 711.12±1.5), hardness (765.38±2.4; 738.65±2.1; 781.23±2.9), BOD (208.12±1.7; 201.31±1.2; 212.31±1.5), COD (312.74±0.98; 301.54±1.21; 307.721±1.51), DO (1.12±.39; 1.01±.28; 1.02±0.23), Ca (265.28±1.21; 252.14±1.34; 275.34±1.17), Mg (124.56±1.54; 117.32±1.28; 135.28±1.62), Cl (1248.64±2.69; 1203.17±2.18; 1351.21±1.34), Zn (75.61±1.85; 71.52±1.02; 78.32±1.21), Cd (24.54±0.84; 21.28±0.61; 26.25±0.71), Pb (11.52±0.95; 8.2±0.52; 12.35±0.52), and Cr (3.1±0.054; 2.9±0.063; 3.5±0.21) contents of summer, winter, and the rainy season correspondingly. Among these three seasons, the water sample collected during rainy season possesses more quantity metals than other seasons. These results confirmed that the metal contamination has been spreading from the abandoned magnesite mine tailing. These unacceptable physicochemical properties could cause severe ecological damage to the water ecosystem.

Phosphate recovery from aqueous solution via struvite crystallization based on electrochemical-decomposition of nature magnesite

Struvite crystallization was considered to be one of the most promising ways for phosphate recovery. However, the cost of struvite recovery process was too high to be economically attractive. In this work, electrochemical-decomposition of nature magnesite was designed to economically supply magnesium and base for synthesizing struvite, and recover phosphate from aqueous solution. The continuous release of magnesium ions from solid magnesite was achieved by electrochemical action, accompanying by the generation of alkaline solution (pH: 9.0–10.8). The results showed that the electrochemical-decomposition strategy was effective to recover phosphate from aqueous solution as struvite. The key factors of phosphate recovery including current, feed rate, the molar ratio of N/P, initial concentration of phosphate and ammonium, influent pH and plate distance. For a 21-day continuous operation, the recovery rate of phosphate was between 86.6% and 93.3%, confirming the stability of the process. The economic evaluation showed that the proposed electrochemical-decomposition process can reduce the cost of phosphate recovery by up to 60% compare with the traditional chemical process, which using MgSO 4 ·7H 2 O and NaOH. The struvite with typical orthorhombic crystals was obtained from the bottom of the glass container where the effluent was collected, indicating that part of the ammonium in the solution was also recovered. It was considered that the proposed process may be beneficial to increase the profitability of magnesite mining companies and wastewater treatment plants through selling-buying magnesite material, and subsequent use as a cheaper magnesium source for struvite precipitation. • A controllable and facile electrochemical-decomposition strategy to synthesize struvite for recovering PO 4 -P was developed. • Sufficient Mg 2+ and base (pH: 9.0-10.8) was created by electrochemically decomposing magnesite for struvite crystallization. • The phosphate can be effectively recovered from aqueous solution as struvite by the electrochemical-decomposition process. • The electrochemical process can reduce the cost by up to 60% compare with traditional chemical process.

Evaluation of interaction among indigenous rhizobacteria and Vigna unguiculata on remediation of metal-containing abandoned magnesite mine tailing.

Abandoned magnesite mine heap causing pollution to nearby farmland and water reservoir. Thus the intention of this research was to screening metal mobilizing and absorbing bacteria from the rhizosphere section of V. unguiculata from farmland nearby to magnesite mine. Further, studied their stimulus effect on growth, biomass, and phytoextraction prospective of V unguiculata in mine tailing. The results of the physicochemical properties of mine tailing shows that four metals (Pb, Mn, Cd, and Zn) were crossing the permissible limit. Out of 27 isolates, 2 isolates (MMS15 and MMS17) were identified with maximum metal tolerance for up to 700mgL-1 (MIC) and metal mobilization (Pb 5.5 and 5.87, Mn 6.6 and 4.88, Cd 1.99 and 2.59, and Zn 6.55 and 6.94mgkg-1) and biosorption efficiency as Pb 3.74 and 3.74, Mn 4.9 and 4.7, Cd 2.41 and 3.96, and Zn 4.3 and 4.9mgg-1. These two strains were identified as members of B. cereus and Kosakonia sp. using 16S rRNA technique and labelled strains NDRMN001 and MGR1, respectively. The Kosakonia sp. MGR1 effectively fixes the nitrogen in the rate of 81.94% and B. cereus NDRMN001 solubilizes 69.98 ± 2.31mgL-1 of soluble phosphate. The experimental group's study results show that the group C (Kosakonia sp. MGR1 and B. cereus NDRMN001) has effectively stimulate the growth, biomass, and phytoextraction potential of V. unguiculata. The results conclude that the optimistic interaction between these two bacteria could be more significant to minimize the metal pollution in magnesite mine tailing.

Mineralogy and Geochemistry of Ultramafic Rocks from Rachoni Magnesite Mine, Gerakini (Chalkidiki, Northern Greece)

The importance of magnesite for the EU economy and industry is very high, making the understanding of their genesis for the exploration for new deposits a priority for the raw materials scientific community. In this direction, the study of the magnesite-hosting ultramafic rocks can be proved very useful. For the present study, ultramafic rock samples were collected from the magnesite ore-hosting ophiolite of the Gerakini mining area (Chalkidiki, Greece) to investigate the consecutive alteration events of the rocks which led to the metallogenesis of the significant magnesite ores of the area. All samples were subjected to a series of analytical methods for the determination of their mineralogical and geochemical characteristics: optical microscopy, XRD, SEM, EMPA, ICP–MS/OES and CIPW normalization. The results of these analyses revealed that the ultramafic rocks of the area have not only all been subjected to serpentinization, but these rocks have also undergone carbonation, silification and clay alteration. The latter events are attributed to the circulation of CO2-rich fluids responsible for the formation of the magnesite ores and locally, the further alteration of the serpentinites into listvenites. The current mineralogy of these rocks was found to be linked to one or more alteration event that took place, thus a significant contribution to the metallo- and petrogenetic history of the Gerakini ophiolite has been made. Furthermore, for the first time in literature, Fe inclusions in olivines from Greece were reported.

Phytoremediation competence of short-term crops on magnesite mine tailing

The soil pollution emerging from mining action is a major environmental concern, the finding of biological resolution for these disputes is substantial to reduce and recover metal harmfulness and spreading. Hence, this research was designed to appraise the phytoremediation capability of short-term cereal crops on magnesite mine tailing. Many sources reported that it took several months or a year for phytoremediation process. We provided for the first time the removal of metals from mine tailing in a shorter period at 56 days and obtained a huge percentage of removal results states that out of 14 crops, 7 crops such as J. curcas (47.2–72.3%), R. communis (41.7–67.1%), M. uniflorum (42.1–58.4%), O. sativa (35.6–61.5%), V. ungiculata (39.3–67.5%), P. glaucum (37.3–58.9%), and G. hirsutum (45.5–68.2%) removed in the range of 35.6–72.3% from the tailing of magnesite mine. Besides that, this results also alarming us the possibilities of entering these metals into the human and animals through consumption of foods derived from these types of crops cultivated from metal polluted soil.

Geospatial assessment of ultramafic rocks and ore minerals of Salem, India

The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) image interpretation methods such as colour composite images (false colour composite, true colour composite) were adapted to capture the image for interpreting the visible and shortwave infrared raw bands and thus generating the mapping for the ultramafic terrain. ASTER colour composite image generated from shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands 8 and 4 and NIR band 3 shows contrast signature for the presence of rock types in the ultramafic terrain. The low and high silica percentages to be interpreted through the absorption features of the spectral range from 8.1 to 12 μm. The combinations used to map silica index are of bands 10, 11 and 7 as RGB. PCA was applied to SWIR and visible and near-infrared spectral bands and from PCA output PC 6, 2 and 1 used in the generation of RGB colour composite. Hence, the results of PCA processed image highlights the magnesite mining area by dark red colour. The minimum noise fraction transform (B1, B2, B4) in RGB applied to ASTER image to focus on the overlapped rock types inclusive of magnesite and the same achieved as sharp image output. ASTER band ratios (R3/1, G4/5 and B6/8) in RGB calculated in which the numerator represents shoulders of absorption, and the denominator represents nearest absorption band. Thus, this combination indicates clearly the magnesite mining area in blue colour. The relative band depth in thermal infrared (TIR) bands (B13 and B14) correlated to find the carbonate index is high, medium and low through the pixel ratio output of the ultramafic terrain. Preprocessing of ASTER data involved atmospheric correction using FLAASH algorithm. The minimum noise fraction transform reduces the spectral dimensionality of data in a linear combination of bands. Spectral angle mapper and support vector machines are supervised classification technique adopted that are key learning models with the aid of analyse and categorization of data. The classification defends user, producer, overall accuracy and kappa coefficient. The magnesite mining area and adjust rock samples were field observed, and the mapping of the ultramafic terrain supports the output achieved through chosen ASTER band colour composite, band ratios, relative band depth, silica index, PCA, minimum noise fraction and pixel classification. Thus, a more informative lithological map for the ultramafic terrain generated to discriminate magnesite-mining region.

Characterization and evaluation of magnesite ore mining by-products of Gerakini mines (Chalkidiki, N. Greece)

The qualitative and quantitative characterization of several mining by-product samples, were collected from the magnesite mine of “Grecian Magnesite SA” company (Gerakini, Chalkidiki, North Greece), was aiming to evaluate the possibility of upgrading their refractory properties by applying thermal treatment. The concentration range of main components for the selected best qualified samples was 38.7–43 wt% for MgO, 37.5–44.1 wt% for SiO2 and 6.5–7.3 wt% for FeO. The mineralogical characterization revealed the presence of olivine, pyroxenes and serpentine, with the concentration of the latter positively correlated to LOI. Microprobe analyses clarified the presence of olivine [(Mg1.79Fe0.19Ni0.01)SiO4], consisting mainly of 90 wt% of forsterite (Mg2SiO4) and 10 wt% of fayalite (Fe2SiO4), as well as of pyroxene group minerals [(Mg0.87Fe0.08Ca0.01Cr0.01)(Si0.98Al0.04)O3], consisting mainly of 91 wt% enstatite (MgSiO3) and 9 wt% of ferrosilite (FeSiO3), respectively. The thermal treatment of the qualified samples demonstrated that at the temperature of 650–680 °C serpentine is almost totally decomposed and at the temperature of 850 °C it has been totally recrystallized to olivine and pyroxenes. At higher temperature treatment (1300 °C), it seems that there is a recrystallization process that favors the deformation of olivine and the further formation of pyroxenes, due to the excess of Si available from the initial decomposition of serpentine, while the presence of magnesite resulted to the restriction of olivine deformation through the partial capture of available Si. For increasing the olivine percentage and, subsequently, the improvement of refractory properties of this material, at temperature > 1300°C, the ideal theoretical addition dose of wt% MgO for optimizing the formation of olivine was calculated, ranging from 7.4 to 17.5 wt%. The latter calculations are reported for the first time in the literature regarding this kind of materials.