Violet Fulgurite Industrialization

Violet fulgurite was largely ignored as a financial resource for most of Birb history. However, around the 3rd century, scientists in Chituto found that it could be used as a powerful fuel source. About a century later, newer technologies allowed it to herald an industrial revolution around the world. 

The standard industrial process of violet fulgurite is as follows: 
Stage 1, the mining phase: once a deposit has been found (on the surface, underground, wherever), miners are sent in to extract the material, and ship it to a refinery. 
Stage 2, the refinery phase: violet fulgurite is then sent to a location (far away from population centers), and it is here that SCIENTIFIC PROCESSES turn them into usable crystals. 
Stage 3, the power plant phase: violet fulgurite crystals are expended (burned? used as a reagent? what kinds of byproducts are made)