The Worldwide Availability of Fluorspar

This paper reviews a recent assessment of fluorspar reserves and resources for 13 market economy countries and the People's Republic of China, and how they relate to the overall availability of fluorspar on the world market. Current world production, consumption and world trade issues are discussed. Nearly 5 million tonnes of fluorspar were produced in 1985, and approximately 60% of that enters the world export market. In recent years world trade has started to shift away from the acid, metallurgical and ceramic grades of fluorspar, as ore‐producing countries look towards higher‐value downstream products. Total potentially recoverable fluorspar from 52 major producing mines and deposits is estimated at nearly 95 million tonnes (as of January 1985). The Republic of South Africa accounts for 31% of the reserves, with Mexico and the People's Republic of China each contributing 18%. The average total cost and availability of fluorspar is evaluated. Approximately 75% of acid‐grade fluorspar evaluated is potentially available at or below a 1985 constant‐dollar cost of US$110 tonne−1. Nearly 94% of metallurgical grades are potentially available at costs of US$75 tonne−1 and below, and virtually all of the ceramic grades could be produced at costs below the 1985 reported market price of US$103 tonne−1.