What are the principal production processes in use today?
Two principal production processes are in use today: • Electrolysis of molten magnesium chloride • Thermal reduction of magnesium oxide Both processes are used to produce significant quantities of magnesium, although currently the majority of production on a worldwide scale is by the electrolytic method. The magnesium chloride cell feed for the electrolytic process is obtained from the ocean, brines rich in magnesium chloride, residual bitterns from the processing of potash, dolormite or magnesium oxide ores. The magnesium furnace feed for the thermal reduction process is obtained from magnesium bearing minerals such as dolomite, brucite or magnesite which are widely distributed in the earth’s crust. The raw material reserves for either process are virtually inexhaustible.
