As one of the most widely-used mineral resources on the planet, corundum is a staple in many industrial and commercial applications. For this reason, it is important for students to be knowledgeable about corundum uses in order to better understand the role it plays in our daily lives.
Firstly, corundum is used extensively in the production of aluminum. This is because it contains a high amount of alumina, the oxide that is key to the production of aluminum metal. In fact, around 90% of mined bauxite is converted into alumina, which is then used to create aluminum.
Corundum is also used in the production of abrasives such as sandpaper, grinding wheels and cutting tools. This is due to its hardness, which ranks just below that of diamonds on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness. The mineral is also used in the manufacturing of optical materials like lenses and windows due to its transparency and scratch resistance.
Ruby and sapphire are gemstone varieties of corundum and are highly prized for their beauty and durability. Rubies, which are red, and sapphires, which come in all other colors (excluding red), are used in the production of jewelry and adornments.
In addition, corundum has industrial uses as well. Some of the other uses of corundum include manufacturing of spark plugs, electrical insulators, furnace linings, and refractory materials.
It is important for us to teach our students about the uses of corundum as it will help them understand the importance of this mineral resource in our day to day life and also raise awareness about its sustainability and conservation. By educating students on corundum uses and the different ways in which it is utilized, we can help them develop a better understanding of the industries and processes that impact our world in significant ways.
