PHOSPHATE USES 



Phosphate has many uses, but fertilizer is by far the most important. In 

 1975, the manufacture of fertilizer used about 80% of the phosphate rock used 

 domestically. Other uses are leavening agents, water softening products, 

 cleaning products, plasticizers, insecticides, beverages, ceramics, catalysts 

 for oil refining processes, and dental cements. The production of different 

 phosphate uses in 1975 are summarized in Table 2 (U.S. Environmental Protec- 

 tion Agency 1978). 



Chemical plants located in the Bone Valley area process approximately 75% 

 of the rock mined into elemental phosphorous, phosphoric acid and finished 

 products. The remaining 25% is exported, usually as dry rock, to processing 

 plants in other states or to foreign countries (U.S. Environmental Protection 

 Agency 1978). 



Table 2. Major phosphate products in 1975. 



ECONOMIC IMPACT 



The Florida Phosphate Council in 1976 estimated that the phosphate miner- 

 al industry employed 8,837 people. Their payroll was over $119 million and 

 average earnings were $13,494. In 1976, the phosphate industry contributed 

 over $8 million in county and valorem revenues for the 5-county Bone Valley 

 area. School taxes paid in the same area for 1975 were over $3 million. On a 

 national level, the industry contributes to the improvement of the nation's 

 balance of trade; about one-fourth of the rock mined in the area is exported 

 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1978). 



The phosphate industry is a major component of the region's and State's 

 economy. The U.S. Bureau of Mines made the following estimates in 1974 (U.S. 

 Environmental Protection Agency 1978): 



Each new job in the phosphate industry generates six other new jobs. 



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