What is Fluorspar and Where Do I Use It?
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Fluorspar is the commercial name for the naturally occurring mineral fluorite, composed of calcium and fluorine (CaF2).
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Fluorspar is the predominant commercial source for the chemical element fluorine.
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Fluorine is a non-metallic element and the lightest of the halogens and therefore largely irreplaceable in its use.
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There are two principal commercial grades of fluorspar: Metallurgical grade (60-96% CaF2) and acid grade (+97% CaF2).
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Metallurgical grade fluorspar accounts for approximately 35-40% of total fluorspar production with the principal applications being:
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Steel production – used as a flux to lower the melting temperature and increase the chemical reactivity to help the absorption and removal of sulphur, phosphorus, carbon and other impurities in the slag
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Cement – used as a flux to speed up the calcination process and enables the kiln to operate at lower temperatures
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Acid grade fluorspar accounts for approximately 60-65% of total fluorspar production with the principal applications being:
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Aluminium production – used to produce aluminium fluoride (ALF3) which acts as a flux to lower the bath temperature in the manufacture of aluminium
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Manufacture of hydrofluoric acid (HF) – the primary source of all fluorochemicals (the single largest consumer of fluorspar), a wide range of applications include:
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Fluorocarbons e.g. refrigerant gases, propellants, etc
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Electrical and electronic appliances
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Lithium batteries
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Pharmaceuticals, polymers and agrochemicals
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Petrochemical catalysts
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Where is Fluorspar Produced and Consumed?
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World production of fluorspar: 5.7Mt – 6.0Mt per year
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The major producing regions are:
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China (>50% of the world’s production)
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Mexico
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Mongolia/CIS
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South Africa
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The major consuming regions are:
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China
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North America
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Europe
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Mexico
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Russia
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How much does it cost?
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Since the global financial crisis in 2009, there has been a contraction in acid-spar demand due to a combination of environmental legislation and demand - Fluorspar prices have followed such trend.
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Acid grade fluorspar has historically commanded the highest price however the price gap between this and metallurgical grade fluorspar has reduced recently.
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In 2017 prices for acid-spar have started to recover in China, export price for acid-spar (FOB China) – traditional benchmark price – is currently published as US$400-420/tonne.
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The equivalent price delivered into Europe (CIF Rotterdam), published as US$300-340/tonne, has started to recover following the FOB China price recovery.
Specific Issues for Fluorspar
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There are no net exporters of fluorspar in Europe and all EU Member States are reliant on imports.
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China produces >50% of the world’s fluorspar.
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Chinese fluorspar exports have continued to decline with acid-spar exports decreasing since 2011 – internal demand and production/export restrictions.
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China may become a net importer in the future.
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China listed fluorspar as a strategic mineral in 2017.
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USA considers fluorspar as a Strategic Mineral.
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North America and Europe are the largest acid-spar consumers outside China, all net importers – a potential risk to long term security of supply.
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No large scale commercial alternative.
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Future demand for fluorspar will highly depend on the development and use of fluorocarbon substitutes.
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Industry view is that demand for acid-spar will increase by 4-5% per year over the next 5 years and prices are forecast to increase in the medium to long-term.
- [Editor:admin]
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