interest or an important by-product. The dearth of nickel lode deposits in the United States makes it 

 very unUkely that lode-type deposits will be found in the continental shelves. 



PHOSPHATE 



Uses. About 70 per cent of the world's production of phosphate rock is used in the production of 

 fertilizer. Phosphorus has many other uses in industry. A few of the more important are in the 

 manufacture of detergents and soaps, animal feed supplements, baking powders, metallurgical alloys, 

 water softening agents, petroleum refining agents and additives, drugs, and military devices including 

 incendiary bombs and smoke screens. 



Present levels of utilization of phosphorous content (phosphate rock) in thousands of short tons. 



World (estimated from production) 12,770 

 United States 3,740 apparent demand 



(actual consumption estimated to be 

 about 500,000 tons less) 



Range of demand projections to the year 2000 for phosphorous materials. 



Prospective supplies and prices. Resources in the United States are very large. World resources are also 

 very large and no overall shortage of supplies is anticipated through the year 2000. However many 

 developing countries that badly need phosphatic fertilizers to increase food production are totally 

 lacking in phosphate resources. 



Prices of phosphate rock are based on the tricalcium phosphate (bone phosphate of lime, B.P.L.) 

 content in per cent.^ ' Prices are quoted per long ton for Florida land-pebble phosphate rock only, but 

 these can be used as a guide to prices of rock from the United States areas and in world trade. The grade 

 ranges from 66 to about 78 per cent B.P.L. and the prices from $6.50 to $10.20 per short ton. Much of 

 the phosphate is sold on contract, the price being subject to negotiation. No significant change in price is 

 expected through 1985. It is possible that the domestic price may increase after 1985 when it appears 

 that higher production cost deposits will need to be exploited. 



Possible substitute materials. Phosphorus has no substitute as a plant-food element. Basic slag, a 

 by-product of bessemer or basic open hearth steel manufacturing is, however, an important source of 

 agricultural phosphorus in countries that are deficient in deposits of phosphate rock. Guano and bone 

 meal are also used for their phosphorus content. 



^' Tricalcium phosphate (B.P.L.) contains about 20 per cent phosphorous. 



VII-143 



