Silbrico Perlite - Naturally Occurring Glassy Volcanic Rock

Perlite forms when lava is submerged in water and cools so quickly the water is trapped in the glass. Raw ore is very dense, but softens at extreme temperatures.

This is not your typical mining process. It`s all done above-ground using an open-pit method of ripping with a bulldozer and, when needed, blasting. It`s safer, more environmentally friendly and sustainable, with less than 1% of perlite mined to date.

Perlite is transported by train as dense ore to reduce costs and environmental impact. One train can transport as many as 300 trucks and produces 8 times less CO₂ and 3 times less nitrogen emissions.

Raw perlite ore is crushed, dried, screened and then heated at temperatures ranging from 1600 to 1800 degrees F. When it pops like popcorn, it expands up to 20 times its original size. And since only the physical form is altered, there are no by-products.

Once expanded, perlite turns from gray to white, is lightweight and has glass bubbles that can hold water and air. Not a bit of perlite goes to waste since all sizes have specific uses.