Potassium feldspar

Synonyms

Feldspar; Aluminosilicic acid, potassium salt; Aluminate(1-), octaoxotrisilicate-, potassium; [ChemIDplus]

Category

Other Mineral Dusts

Description

Feldspar is the name for the largest group of minerals in igneous rocks; Composed of aluminum silicate plus potassium and sodium; Granite consists of quartz, feldspar, and other minerals in small amounts; [Harber, p. 347]

Sources/Uses

"In the US, about 66% of feldspar is consumed in glassmaking, including glass containers and glass fiber. Pottery (including electrical insulators, sanitaryware, tableware, and tile) and other uses, such as fillers, accounted for the remainder." [Wikipedia]

Comments

"Feldspars are used extensively in the ceramics industry and, when associated with quartz, they induce collagenous fibrosis of the lung. In the absence of quartz, feldspars are not felt to be pathogenic." [Harber, p. 347] See "Feldspar."

Biomedical References

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Glass Manufacturing
• Mining

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Ceramics making
• Glassblowing