Methods, systems and apparatus for producing continuous basalt fibers, microfibers, and microspheres from high temperature melts are disclosed. A cold crucible induction furnace is used to super heat crushed basalt rock to form a melt. The melt is cooled prior to forming a fiber. The fiber produced from the superheated melt possesses superior properties not found with conventional basalt fibers produced in gas furnaces. In some implementations, the superheated melt is spun into continuous basalt fibers. In some implementations, the superheated melt is blown into microfibers and microspheres.

A method of producing fibers includes exposing an inorganic composition to a plasma plume, where the plasma plume has a temperature of at least 1500° C. and a bulk velocity of at least 350 m/s. A system for producing fibers includes a plasma torch to produce the plasma plume and a feeding device to introduce the inorganic composition to the plasma plume.

Glass fibers have a chemical composition that includes the following constituents, in a weight content that varies within the limits defined below: SiO.sub.2 50-70%, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 0-5%, CaO+MgO 0-7%, Na.sub.2O 5-15%, K.sub.2O 0-10%, BaO 2-10%, SrO 2-10%, ZnO <2%, and B.sub.2O.sub.3 5-15%.

Glass fibers have a chemical composition that includes the following constituents, in a weight content that varies within the limits defined below: SiO.sub.2 50-70%, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 0-5%, CaO+MgO 0-7%, Na.sub.2O 5-15%, K.sub.2O 0-10%, BaO 2-10%, SrO 2-10%, ZnO <2%, and B.sub.2O.sub.3 5-15%.

Methods, systems and apparatus for producing continuous basalt fibers, microfibers, and microspheres from high temperature melts are disclosed. A cold crucible induction furnace is used to super heat crushed basalt rock to form a melt. The melt is cooled prior to forming a fiber. The fiber produced from the superheated melt possesses superior properties not found with conventional basalt fibers produced in gas furnaces. In some implementations, the superheated melt is spun into continuous basalt fibers. In some implementations, the superheated melt is blown into microfibers and microspheres.

Methods, systems and apparatus for producing continuous basalt fibers, microfibers, and microspheres from high temperature melts are disclosed. A cold crucible induction furnace is used to super heat crushed basalt rock to form a melt. The melt is cooled prior to forming a fiber. The fiber produced from the superheated melt possesses superior properties not found with conventional basalt fibers produced in gas furnaces. In some implementations, the superheated melt is spun into continuous basalt fibers. In some implementations, the superheated melt is blown into microfibers and microspheres.

Glass fibers have a chemical composition that includes the following constituents, in a weight content that varies within the limits defined below: SiO.sub.2 50-70%, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 0-5%, CaO+MgO 0-7%, Na.sub.2O 5-15%, K.sub.2O 0-10%, BaO 2-10%, SrO 2-10%, ZnO<2%, and B.sub.2O.sub.3 5-15%.

Glass fibers have a chemical composition that includes the following constituents, in a weight content that varies within the limits defined below: SiO.sub.2 50-70%, Al.sub.2O.sub.3 0-5%, CaO+MgO 0-7%, Na.sub.2O 5-15%, K.sub.2O 0-10%, BaO 2-10%, SrO 2-10%, ZnO<2%, and B.sub.2O.sub.3 5-15%.

Methods, systems and apparatus for producing continuous basalt fibers, microfibers, and microspheres from high temperature melts are disclosed. A cold crucible induction furnace is used to super heat crushed basalt rock to form a melt. The melt is cooled prior to forming a fiber. The fiber produced from the superheated melt possesses superior properties not found with conventional basalt fibers produced in gas furnaces. In some implementations, the superheated melt is spun into continuous basalt fibers. In some implementations, the superheated melt is blown into microfibers and microspheres.