Carborundo Carburo de silicio
Carborundo
Carburo de silicio is a mineral with formula SiC, in the Material sintético group. This specimen comes from Fábrica de Carborundo, Beteta, Cuenca, Castilla-La Mancha, España and joined the Terrium collection in 2023.
Description
Laminar, crested aggregate of synthetic silicon carbide with intense rainbow iridescence (blue, violet, green and gold) and metallic lustre; piece of strong sculptural presence, no matrix.
History of this specimen
An employee of the only silicon carbide factory on the peninsula gave it to me. I first had a bluish piece that I liked very much and lent to my friend Pedro Pantaleón for macro filming; it got knocked and I decided to give it to him. The next day, travelling with Óscar from Málaga to Hombrados, we stopped to rest in Beteta, next to Solán de Cabras. In the bar, we asked about a large, odd factory there and were told that all the carborundum made in Spain came out of it. A neighbour, sitting at the door of his house and who had worked there all his life, when we explained the story and showed him the video of my original piece, gave us two pieces he had kept at home for about 30 years. And he told us about the rise and decline of this unique foundry.
About Carborundo Carburo de silicio
Synthetic material (not IMA): silicon carbide obtained by the Acheson process (silica sand + coke at >2000 °C); the iridescence arises from thin surface oxide films. Highly valued for its aesthetics despite not being a mineral species. The iridescent colours are produced by quenching the material with water immediately on removal from the furnace.
About the locality
The Beteta factory was for decades the only Spanish producer of carborundum; its reputation rested on the high quality of the material. Activity declined with mass imports and after the pandemic, leaving these pieces as industrial testimony.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0112
- Composition
- SiC
- Name
- Carborundo Carburo de silicio
- Group
- Material sintético
- Category
- Meritum Persé
- Mine
- Fábrica de Carborundo
- District / Municipality
- Beteta
- Province
- Cuenca
- Region
- Castilla-La Mancha
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 7.5 x 3 x 2
- Weight
- 45 g
- Acquired
- 2023
- Ex-collection
- Ex operario de la Fábrica de Carborundo de Beteta (regalo in situ)
- Etymology
- From English "carborundum", a trade name coined by Edward Acheson in 1893 for synthetic silicon carbide.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
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