Glass Manufacturing
Low-iron calcium carbonate for glass manufacturing.
A dependable source for the glass batch, and a pure, renewable calcium carbonate harvested in the Bahamas. We're the world's largest supplier of oolitic aragonite. We have never had a rejected load, and we have never failed to meet customer demand.
On the batch sheet
What aragonite does in the glass batch
Low iron, by nature
Oolitic aragonite carries substantially less iron than limestone, with fewer impurities and other contaminants. Our typical analysis runs to a maximum of 80 ppm Fe₂O₃. That is a low-iron calcium carbonate for plants that need a clearer, higher-quality glass, in bottles, glassware, or float.
A high-purity carbonate source
A Bahamian oolite is a very pure calcium carbonate: an ovular grain built from needle-like crystals that clump together as they precipitate to the ocean floor. For the batch sheet, the typical analysis runs CaCO₃ 96% minimum and Fe₂O₃ 80 ppm maximum, with uniform chemistry load after load.
Consistent from load to load
We dig at sites selected for uniform product testing, then size every load to the correct gradation at our own facility. The result is a high-purity calcium carbonate for consistent melts, and a carbonate that behaves the same batch after batch.
Clean and renewable
Aragonite forms continuously where Atlantic waters converge with the Gulf Stream, which makes it a renewable mineral resource. For a glassmaker that is a cleaner, more sustainable input, and it gives up nothing on quality.
The mineral itself, in one page. What is oolitic aragonite
Specifications
Typical analysis for the glass batch
These are the typical values for our oolitic aragonite as harvested and processed, published so you can qualify it against your process requirements. Certified assays and lot-specific documentation come on request.
Fe₂O₃ at 80 ppm maximum and CaCO₃ at 96% minimum. Those are the two figures glass buyers qualify against first.
| Analyte | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Fe₂O₃ | 80 ppm max |
| CaCO₃ | 96% min |
| MgO | 0.35% |
| H₂O | <1% |
| US mesh | % retained |
|---|---|
| +20 | 0 |
| +30 | 28.7 |
| +40 | 28.5 |
| +50 | 25 |
| +70 | 12.7 |
| +100 | 4.1 |
| +140 | 0.8 |
| +200 | 0.2 |
Typical values, not a guaranteed analysis. Certified assays available on request.
Supply and delivery
Enough carbonate, on the day you need it
Aragonite Source is operated by the former principals of Marcona, who harvested aragonite at Ocean Cay from the 1970s into the early 2000s. In close conjunction with the Bahamian government, we dig where the testing comes back uniform, at sites selected for renewability.
We've sold millions of tons over 50+ years, to hundreds of customers, at the bulk volumes a glass plant runs on. Delivery moves on our own truck fleet plus rail out of our own yard. Consistent, and on time.
The mission hasn't changed. On time, always to specification. We have never had a rejected load, and we have never failed to meet customer demand.
Let's talk supply.
Send us the batch spec and the tonnage, and we'll get you carbonate that hits it, every time. The Industry field below is already set to Glass Manufacturing.
Thank you. We're on it.
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