Magnesium Silicate Processing

A method of processing a magnesium silicate source by:

• selecting a magnesium silicate source selected from:
• olivine, serpentine, pyroxene, amphiboles, phyllosilicates, clays, or any combination thereof;
• subjecting the selected magnesium silicate source to water digestion wherein the magnesium silicate source is mixed with water to form a washed magnesium silicate;
• subjecting the washed magnesium silicate to acid digestion, to produce a digested solution, acid digestion comprising mixing the washed magnesium silicate at a temperature of 60° C. to 120° C. with acid sufficient to decrease a pH of the acid and the digested solution to −1-6 and, recovering evolved hydrogen gas during acid digestion;
• completing a base wash by increasing the digested solution pH by addition of an alkali solution, to produce a magnesium salt solution consisting of magnesium chloride, magnesium sulphate, or both magnesium chloride and magnesium sulphate;
• and
• subjecting the magnesium salt solution to a further base wash by increasing the digested solution pH by addition of an alkali solution at a temperature of less than 120° C. and subsequently, completing base separation and removal of magnesium hydroxide produced during the further base wash.

A method of processing a magnesium silicate source by:

• selecting a magnesium silicate source selected from:
• olivine, serpentine, pyroxene, amphiboles, phyllosilicates, clays, or any combination thereof;
• subjecting the selected magnesium silicate source to water digestion wherein the magnesium silicate source is mixed with water to form a washed magnesium silicate;
• subjecting the washed magnesium silicate to acid digestion, to produce a digested solution, acid digestion comprising mixing the washed magnesium silicate with acid and, recovering evolved hydrogen gas during acid digestion;
• completing a further water digestion step after the acid digestion, wherein the digested solution is mixed with water to form a washed digested solution;
• and
• completing a base wash by increasing a pH of the washed digested solution by addition of an alkali solution, to produce a magnesium salt solution consisting of magnesium chloride, magnesium sulphate, or both magnesium chloride and magnesium sulphate.