SIC 1475 Phosphate Rock

Contenidos

• NAICS CODE(S).
• FURTHER READING.

SIC 1475

This category covers establishments primarily engaged in mining, milling, drying, calcining, sintering (heating without melting), or otherwise preparing phosphate rock, including apatite.

NAICS CODE(S)

212392

Phosphate Rock Mining

In 2003, nine U.S. firms in four states mined phosphate rock ore, compared to 20 firms in 1997. In 2003 mines produced an estimated 33.3 million metric tons of phosphate rock, with a value of $895 million f.o.b. mine. The United States is the world's leading producer and consumer of phosphate rock, over 90 percent of which is used to produce chemical fertilizers and animal feed supplements. In 2003, it accounted for about one-fourth of total global production, down from one-third in the late 1990s. The states of Florida and North Carolina produced 85 percent of the total U.S. phosphate rock output, with Idaho and Utah contributing the rest. After growing for seven consecutive years in the late 1990s, phosphate rock production in the United States began to wane, plunging from 40.6 million metric tons in 1999 to 31.9 million metric tons, its lowest point in 30 years, in 2001. Although production rebounded somewhat to 36.1 million metric tons in 2002, it dipped to 33.3 million metric tons in 2003. This decline was due in large part to reduced exports to China, where the market for diammonium phosphate (DAP) had weakened considerably. Between 2000 and 2001, U.S. phosphate rock exports had plunged from 299,000 metric tons to 9,000 metric tons. By 2003, exports were down to a mere 5,000 metric tons.

The mineral phosphate took over 150 natural forms and was required by all plant and animal life for existence. All of the U.S. production of phosphate minerals—and 90 percent of worldwide production—was the sedimentary phosphate rock known as phosphorite, which was largely comprised of carbonite apatite. The phosphate rock mining and preparation industry produced the phosphorus that comprised one of three primary ingredients of agricultural fertilizers.

A substantial percentage of mined low-grade phosphate was used in an untreated state as soil fertilizer. This natural phosphate released its phosphorus content into soils relatively slowly, however, so greater volumes had to be extracted to achieve the same effects as more concentrated processed phosphate fertilizers. Common forms of treated or processed phosphate compounds include phosphoric acid, triple superphosphate...