STRONTIUM

Although strontium is the 17th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, only the minerals celestite (strontium sulfate) and strontianite (strontium carbonate) contain strontium in sufficient quantities to make recovery practical. Celestite has been the leading source of strontium since the 1870s because it occurs more frequently in economically attractive sedimentary deposits. The largest celestite deposits are found in China, Iran, Mexico, Spain and Turkey, although no production has been reported for Turkey in recent years. Strontianite has been identified in various countries worldwide. Production and consumption The world’s leading producers of celestite in 2023 were Iran, Spain, China and Mexico. Of an estimated 520 kt (570,000 st) of celestite produced worldwide, nearly all of it was produced in those countries. Although celestite deposits occur throughout the United States, none have been mined since 1959; however, in July, an Australia-based company announced its acquisition of an 80 percent interest in a strontium deposit in California that included plans for additional strontium mineralization exploration. In 2023, U.S. apparent consumption of strontium (contained in celestite and manufactured strontium compounds) was estimated to be 5.33 kt (5,880 st), a 69 percent decrease from the revised estimated quantity in 2022. The decrease in 2023 was likely the result of decreased drilling activity and reduced consumption of strontium compounds for various end uses. Foreign trade According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the gross weight of total imports of strontium compounds and minerals in 2023 was 6.02 kt (6,630 st), 41 percent less than in 2022. Mexico was the source of 68 percent of all strontium imports. Imports of celestite, nearly all of which came from Mexico, decreased significantly in 2023, likely the result of decreased use of celestite in natural-gas and oil well drilling fluids. In recent years, celestite imports have been variable, corresponding with the number of operating rotary drill rigs; celestite may be used as an additive in drilling muds or as a substitute for barite in drilling muds, and the substitution is more likely when barite prices increase, and when drilling activity is high. In 2023, drilling activity decreased by about 5 percent from 2022 and remained 27 percent below the level in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Correspondingly, celestite imports decreased by 82 percent in 2023, and remained nearly 75 percent below the amount in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Strontium carbonate exports were 89 t gross weight (53 t of strontium content) in 2023, a significant increase compared with 26 t gross weight (15 t of strontium content) in 2022. Prices In 2023, the average U.S. Customs unit value was $1.62/kg ($0.74/lb) for imported strontium carbonate, and $2.64/kg ($1.20/lb) for strontium nitrate. The average value of imported celestite decreased to $82/t ($75/st), down 29 percent from 2022; high-value celestite imports were most likely mineral specimens. Legislation and government programs The U.S. Department of Energy evaluated strontium for the 2023 critical materials assessment, but strontium did not meet the threshold for criticality and was considered a lower-risk material. The finalized assessment’s purpose was to evaluate supply-chain security for clean energy technology. Similarly, the 2022 U.S critical minerals list published by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Federal Register (87 FR 10381) did not include strontium as a critical mineral. The critical minerals list is to be updated every three years and revised as necessary, consistent with available data. In contrast, in 2022, strontium nitrate, strontium peroxide and strontium oxalate were identified as critical chemicals in a Defense Production Act Title III Expansion of Domestic Production Capability and Capacity Funding Opportunity Announcement. After comparable evaluations, strontium was variously considered critical or not critical on minerals lists developed by several other countries and regions. In 2023, strontium was identified as a critical raw material by the European Union, and strontium was also included on the critical minerals list released by India. Outlook Celestite is rarely consumed directly, except as an additive to drilling fluids for oil and natural-gas exploration and production, for which celestite is ground but undergoes no chemical processing. In other uses, it is typically converted into strontium carbonate through chemical processing. Strontium carbonate is used directly in some applications and is also converted into downstream chemicals such as strontium chloride, strontium hydroxide or strontium nitrate. Large-scale domestic production of strontium carbonate ceased in 2006, although a few domestic companies continued to manufacture and/or distribute small quantities of downstream strontium chemicals from imported strontium carbonate. The amount of strontium carbonate used in ceramic ferrite magnets was estimated to be about the same as the use of strontium nitrate in pyrotechnics and signals in 2023. These two end uses are thought to account for most strontium consumption other than in the form of celestite. Other applications for strontium compounds include master alloys for aluminum casting, pigments and fillers in corrosion-resistant paints, electrolytic production of zinc, and glass. With continued developments in advanced applications, consumption of strontium in new end uses may increase. References U.S. Geological Survey, 2024, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024—Strontium: U.S. Geological Survey, p. 170–171, https://doi.org/10.3133/mcs2024. Dateline Resources Ltd., 2023, Dateline acquires 80 percent interest in Argos strontium deposit, San Bernardino, California: Dateline Resources Ltd. press release, July 5. (Accessed February 22, 2024, at https://www.investi.com.au/api/announcements/dtr/3f4c3d5c-f08.pdf). Baker Hughes Co., 2024, Rig count overview & summary count: Baker Hughes Co., February 9. (Accessed February 14, 2024, via https://rigcount.bakerhughes.com/). U.S. Department of Defense, 2022, Call for proposals on critical chemicals production: U.S. Department of Defense, December 9. (Accessed February 22, 2024, at https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/dpai/dpat3/opportunities.html).

STRONTIUM

Authored by:
A.K. Hatfield

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From sessions to strategy: Revealing long-term and emerging innovation trends in data analytics, intelligent systems and automation

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To view the past issues of the UCA magazine you must be a member of SME/UCA.

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