Similar to the production of lime, magnesite can be burned in the presence of charcoal to produce MgO, which, in the form of a mineral, is known as periclase. Large quantities of magnesite are burnt to make magnesium oxide: an important refractory material used as a lining in blast furnaces, kilns and incinerators. Calcination temperatures determine the reactivity of resulting oxide products and t...

Magnesite is a mineral with the chemical formula MgCO3 (magnesium carbonate). Mixed crystals ofiron(II) carbonate and magnesite (mixed crystals known as ankerite) possess a layered structure:monolayers of carbonate groups alternate with magnesium monolayers as well as iron(II) carbonate monolayers. Manganese, cobalt and nickel may also occur in small amounts.OccurrenceMagnesite occurs as veins in ...