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cryolite
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    Also found in: Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.06 sec.

cryolite

Rare granular crystalline mineral (sodium aluminium fluoride), Na3AlF6, used in the electrolytic reduction of bauxite to aluminium. It is chiefly found in Greenland.

In the extraction of aluminium from the ore bauxite (impure aluminium oxide), the alumina (pure aluminium oxide) has to be molten for electrolysis to take place. Alumina has a very high melting point (2,047°C/13,717°F), which would require a lot of energy to keep it as a liquid, so the alumina is dissolved in molten cryolite instead. Far less energy is required and a temperature of 950°C/1,750°F can be used.

Cryolite also occurs in Colorado at Pike's Peak.
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