> Depends on its structure and how pure it is.  Very finely powdered
> magnesium with lots of air will go very quickly.  Large ingots burn
slowly.
>
> I'd be interested in seeing the 'after' pictures.  The stuff burns so
> hot I'm interested in what's happening to the concrete and ground below
it.
>
> Takes a lot of energy to start a magnesium fire - wonder how this one
> happened.

That's not entirely true, you can start a magnesium fire very easily. My
high school chemistry teacher demonstrated a magnesium fire with a propane
torch and some magnesium ribbon (about 0.020 inch thick).

A friend of mine runs a machine shop, occasionally they machine magnesium.
Apparently fire is the number one concern. Apparently the chemical reaction
of the air (oxygen) and the freshly exposed surface on the chips is a
significant concern.

-Denny


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