158



### STRONTIUM

(Data in metric tons of strontium content 1 unless otherwise noted)

Domestic Production and Use : No strontium minerals have been produc ed in the United States since 1959. The most common strontium mineral, celestite, which consists prim arily of strontium sulfate, was imported exclusively from Mexico. A company in Georgia was the only major U.S. pr oducer of strontium compounds, and analysis of celestite import data indicates that production at this operation has decreased substantially since 2001. Estimates of primary strontium compound end uses in the United States were pyrotechnics and signals, 30%; ferrite ceramic magnets, 30%; master alloys, 10%; pigments and fillers, 10%; electrol ytic production of zinc, 10% ; and other applications, 10%.

Salient Statistics—United States : 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 e

Production

— — — — — Imports for consumption:

Strontium minerals 2,760 799 671 541 445 Strontium compounds 14, 500 11,700 8,860 8,550 8,250 Exports, compounds 552 255 716 720 725 Shipments from Government stockpile excesses

— — — — — Consumption, apparent, celestite and com pounds 16,700 12,200 8,820 8,370 7,750 Price, average value of mineral imports at port of exportation, dollars per ton 53 56 64 67 70 Net import reliance 2 as a percentage of apparent consumption 100 100 100 100 100

Recycling : None.

Import Sources (2004-07) : Strontium minerals: Mexico, 100%. Stront ium compounds: Mexico, 78%; Germany, 11%; and other, 11%. Total imports: Mexico, 79%; Germany, 10%; and other, 11%.

Tariff : Item Number Normal Trade Relations

12-31-08

Celestite 2530.90.8010 Free.

Strontium metal 2805.19.1000 3.7% ad val. Compounds: Strontium oxide, hydroxide, peroxide 2816.40.1000 4.2% ad val.

Strontium nitrate 2834.29.2000 4.2% ad val.

Strontium carbonate 2836. 92.0000 4.2% ad val.

Depletion Allowance : 22% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign).

Government Stockpile : None.

Prepared by Désirée E. Polyak [(703) 648-4909, dpolyak@usgs.gov, fax: (703) 648-7757]159



### STRONTIUM

Events, Trends, and Issues : China is the world’s leading producer of st rontium carbonate, with plant capacity of 200,000 tons per year, followed by Germany and Mexico, with 70,000 and 127,000 tons per year, respectively. China uses mostly domestic and some imported celestite to supp ly its strontium carbonate plants; the German producer uses imported celestite; and Mexican producers use domesti c ore to supply their plants. Major markets for Chinese strontium carbonate are in Asia and Europe. Chinese celestite reserves are smaller and of lower quality than the ores in other major producing countries, including Mexico and S pain, raising the question of whether Chinese celestite producers will be able to maintain high enough production levels to meet the demand at strontium carbonate plants for an extended period of time, or if additional imports will be required. Turkey had been another leading celestite producer, but continues to experience significant decline in production.

Strontium demand for cathode ray tubes (CRTs) continues to be strong in Asia and Mexico, but newer television technology is likely to eventually replace CRTs in those markets as well. Although CRTs are still available, growth continues in flat-panel technology, which requires much smalle r quantities of strontium carbonate, resulting in steadily decreasing demand for strontium carbonate for television displays, especially in North America and Europe. Even without strontium carbonate consumption in television glass, estimated strontium consumption in ceramics and glass manufacture remained one of the top end-use industries thro ugh its use in ceramic ferrite magnets and other ceramic and glass applications. The use of strontium nitrate in pyrotechnics was estimated to equal the use of strontium carbonate in ferrite magnets.

World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base : 3

Mine production Reserves 4 Reserve base 4

2007 2008 e

United States

— — — 1,400,000 Argentina 20,000 5,000 All other: All other:

China e 190,000 200,000 6,800,000 11,000,000

Iran —

— Mexico 96,900 96,900
Morocco 2,700 2,700 Pakistan 2,000 2,100 Spain 190,000 200,000 Turkey 9,000 5,000 1 1 World total (rounded) 511,0 00 512,000 6,800,000 12,000,000

World Resources : Resources of strontium in the United States ar e several times the reserve base. World resources are thought to exceed 1 billion tons.

Substitutes : Although it is possible to substitute other materials for strontium in some of its applications, such a change would adversely affect product performance and/or co st. For example, barium coul d replace strontium in CRT picture tube glass only after ex tensive circuit redesign to reduce operating voltages that produce harmful secondary x rays. Barium replacement of strontium in ferrite ceramic magnets would decrease the maximum energy and temperature characteristics of the magn ets. Substituting for strontium in pyro technics would be impractical because the desired brilliance and visibility are imparted only by strontium and its compounds.

e Estimated. — Zero.

1 The strontium content of celestite is 43.88%; this factor was used to convert units of celestite.

2 Defined as imports – exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes.

3 Metric tons of strontium minerals.

4 See Appendix C for definitions.

U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2009