South Ural Federal Scientific Center of Mineralogy and Geoecology, Ural Branch of RAS (Miass, Russia).

Korekina M. A., Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, maria@mineralogy.ru
Shtenberg M. A., Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences
Artemyev D. A., Researcher, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences

Plazlay LLC (Moscow, Russia)

Goptar A. I., Technical Director
Vorobyev V. V., Leading Engineer

South Ural State University (Chelyabinsk, Russia)
Igumentsev K. V., Student

This study explores the enhancement of quartz raw material quality through plasma-chemical treatment. Experiments were conducted using a custom setup that generated nonequilibrium plasma from a mixture of chlorine-containing gas, argon, and oxygen. Quartz grit from the Larinskoye deposit was treated for 15 minutes, resulting in a significant reduction of impurities commonly found in natural quartz. These findings highlight the potential for producing ultra-high-purity quartz suitable for advanced technological applications. Optimal plasma-chemical treatment requires thorough preliminary cleaning of quartz grit to remove mineral impurities. The effectiveness of this step depends on the preparation procedure — including fraction size, washing and drying methods, and minimizing contamination — as well as the structural and textural characteristics of quartz veins, which influence the adhesion and chemical resistance of associated minerals. The developed method is particularly promising for enriching milky-white quartz, which contains high levels of gas-liquid inclusions resistant to high temperatures. Plasma-chemical treatment efficiently removes these inclusions, enhancing quartz purity. Additionally, the method enables the removal of alkaline elements (e. g., lithium) from dislocation channels within the quartz crystal lattice, improving the material’s suitability for optical, electronic, and other applications. Plasma-chemical cleaning increases the stability and predictability of quartz properties, making it ideal for demanding uses.
This research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation and the Chelyabinsk Region under scientific project No. 25-27-20047.

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