Magnesium orthosilicate → Sodium orthosilicate

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There is provided a process for replacing the magnesium oxide portion of a nature magnesium silicate with sodium oxide thereby to form sodium silicate which comprises melting a natural magnesium silicate and sodium carbonate at a temperature of from 1100° to 1350° C. until a clear melt is obtained, the molar ratio of sodium oxide derived from the sodium carbonate per mole of silica contained in the natural magnesium silicate being from 4:1 to 7:1, quenching and extracting said clear melt with water and separating the insoluble magnesium oxide from the solution containing predominantly sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide.

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