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Phosphate is used in the manufacture of a variety of products, including toothpaste, soft drinks, and dishwashing and laundry detergents. Over 95 percent of the phosphate produced in the United States, however, is used in the manufacture of fertilizers and animal feed supplements. This section provides information on phosphate mining in Idaho, the phosphate-leasing process, the mine plan approval process, the Clean Water Act permitting process, and the CERCLA assessment and remediation process.
Beneficiation of Phosphate Ore examines various methods for processing phosphate rock, an important mineral commodity used in the production of phosphoric acid. The majority of phosphoric acid is produced by the wet process, in which phosphate rock is reacted with sulfuric acid to produce phosphoric acid and gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate). This wet process demands a phosphate rock feed that meets certain specifications to produce phosphoric acid efficiently and economically. Beneficiation of Phosphate Ore thoroughly explains the methods used in beneficiation of different types of phosphate ores for use in the wet process. The mineralogical properties of the two major types of phosphate deposits, sedimentary and igneous, are described along with the processing methods. The benefits and disadvantages of each process are discussed in detail.
The extraction of apatite minerals is becoming more and more crucial with the depletion of high-grade ores. At the same time, many streams of waste are continuously being produced by the phosphate industry, including calcareous and siliceous waste rocks, clayey sludge and phosphogypsum. These waste products are produced in huge volumes reaching a ratio of between 5 to 10 tons of waste per each ton of concentrated phosphate. The management of these waste products is becoming a real issue in terms of growing public awareness and environmental and financial aspects. In addition, phosphate ores are known to contain other critical raw materials (CRM) such as rare earth elements and uranium. The r...
"For every problem there is a solution--simple, neat, and wrong." H. L. Mencken made this observation years ago, and it is quoted at the beginning of Fred Blakey's study of Florida's phosphate industry. Few people would disagree that there is a real environmental crisis facing the world today. The cause is unrestrained growth of the population, of economies, and of the exploitation of natural resources. The author points out that this viewpoint is foreign to a people who have equated growth with progress, and bigness with goodness. Only recently have Americans conceded that their resources are not inexhaustible. Blakey tells us that we have been bombarded with solutions to a problem that pro...
" For over 100 years in the United States, phosphate has been mined on federal land primarily for use in fertilizer and herbicides. The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for leasing and overseeing such mines on federal land. In 1996, selenium contamination from phosphate mines was discovered in Idaho, threatening the health of livestock and wildlife. Mines in the area are now being assessed for cleanup under the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Superfund program. Agencies may require mine operators to post financial assurances, which are usually in the form of a bond, to ensure they meet their leasing and cleanup obligations. GAO was asked to determine the (1) extent to which federal oversight for phosphate operations has changed since 1996; (2) actions federal agencies and mine operators have taken to address contamination, amounts spent to date, and estimated remaining costs; and (3) types and amounts of financial assurances in place for phosphate-mining operations. GAO reviewed agency data and documents, and interviewed key agency and mine operator officials. "
Fueled by climbing food prices, the demand for fertilizers is on the rise. The phosphate industry is responding aggressively by bringing significant projects on line across the globe. But meeting this unprecedented demand comes with a host of challenges: Environmental lawsuits have put a stop to one of the largest phosphate mines in the world. Other operations are closing because of the depletion of phosphate reserve. The increasing proportion of high organic and high dolomite ores has caused beneficiation costs to skyrocket. There is a growing urgency for the sustainable development and recycling of phosphate resources. Beneficiation of Phosphates: New Thought, New Technology, New Development provides a comprehensive look into how industry leaders and the R&D community are responding to these and many other critical issues. Dozens of internationally respected experts provide insights on key breakthroughs that are on the drawing boards or being implemented today that will shape the industry in the years ahead.
Sustainable Use of Water by Industry: Perspectives, Incentives, and Tools