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Feldspar
Feldspars are an important group of aluminosilicates constituting
60% of the Earth’s crust.
They crystallize from magma in both intrusive and extrusive
rocks. They occur as compact minerals, as veins, and are developed
in many metamorphic rock. They may also be found in many types
of sedimentary rock.
These rock-forming minerals are used in the ceramic and glass
industry, where they act as a source of alumina and alkali,
and as a flux to lower melting temperature.
Link: EUROFEL-The
European Association of Feldspar Producers
Production of Feldspar
tonnes
| |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
| Europe |
|
|
|
| Bulgaria |
22.000 |
23.000 |
25.000 |
| Czech Republic |
337.000 |
373.000 |
401.000 |
| Finland |
38.609 |
36.145 |
39.552 |
| France |
642.000 |
720.000 |
659.000 |
| Germany |
322.116 |
302.650 |
243.368 |
| Greece |
94.700 |
126.400 |
125.000 |
| Italy |
2.851.289 |
3.092.437 |
3.000.000 |
| Macedonia |
10.057 |
20.449 |
21.000 |
| Norway |
72.000 |
79.510 |
75.184 |
| Poland |
95.588 |
145.980 |
209.226 |
| Portugal |
136.730 |
112.923 |
124.226 |
| Romania |
37.157 |
43.037 |
50.864 |
| Russia |
45.000 |
45.000 |
45.000 |
| Serbia & Montenegro |
4.254 |
4.451 |
4.319 |
| Spain |
478.260 |
520.000 |
550.000 |
| Sweden |
35.000 |
40.000 |
37.000 |
| Turkey |
1.150.706 |
1.510.293 |
1.766.387 |
| United Kingdom (1) |
3.645 |
2.995 |
1.896 |
| total |
6.376.111 |
7.198.270 |
7.378.022 |
| |
|
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| Africa |
|
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|
| Algeria |
707 |
0 |
0 |
| Egypt (2) |
330.000 |
300.000 |
350.000 |
| Morocco |
16.052 |
12.015 |
19.402 |
| Nigeria |
– |
– |
– |
| South Africa |
66.774 |
66.062 |
66.616 |
| Zimbabwe |
2.059 |
1.055 |
824 |
| |
|
|
|
| America |
|
|
|
| Argentina |
61.000 |
60.000 |
60.000 |
| Brazil (3) |
148.515 |
130.000 |
130.000 |
| Chile |
2.311 |
2.867 |
3.069 |
| Colombia |
55.000 |
55.000 |
55.000 |
| Cuba |
6.700 |
7.000 |
7.000 |
| Ecuador |
47.041 |
60.688 |
39.068 |
| Guatemala |
17.804 |
6.809 |
13.044 |
| Mexico |
334.439 |
329.591 |
332.101 |
| Peru |
5.642 |
4.253 |
6.018 |
| USA |
790.000 |
800.000 |
790.000 |
| Uruguay |
2.493 |
3.522 |
1.550 |
| Venezuela |
129.529 |
142.425 |
146.619 |
| |
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| Asia |
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| China |
2.000.000 |
2.000.000 |
2.000.000 |
| India (4) |
179.046 |
228.735 |
237.993 |
| Indonesia |
24.000 |
24.000 |
– |
| Iran (5) |
223.229 |
163.343 |
– |
| Japan (6) |
1.021.644 |
1.000.000 |
1.000.000 |
| Jordan |
11.112 |
611 |
530 |
| Malaysia |
29.895 |
40.509 |
30.819 |
| Myanmar (7) |
12.000 |
12.000 |
12.000 |
| Pakistan (8) |
34.252 |
45.145 |
35.071 |
| Philippines |
6.500 |
33.122 |
30.000 |
| Republic of Korea |
330.417 |
389.361 |
415.580 |
| Saudi Arabia |
21.100 |
– |
– |
| Sri Lanka |
28.638 |
27.438 |
28.866 |
| Taiwan |
409 |
147 |
0 |
| Thailand |
542.991 |
710.543 |
– |
| Uzbekistan |
4.300 |
4.300 |
4.300 |
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|
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|
| Oceania |
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|
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| Australia (9) |
94.096 |
113.917 |
100.882 |
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| World
total |
13.000.000 |
14.000.000 |
14.000.000 |
Notes:
In addition to the countries listed, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia
and Slovakia are believed to produce feldspar.
(1) China stone
(2) Years ended 30 June of that stated
(3) Including beneficiated and directly shipped material
(4) Including beneficiated and directly shipped material
(5) Years ended 20 June following that stated
(6) Including weathered granite feldspar
(7) Years ended 31 March following that stated
(8) Years ended 30 June following that stated
(9) Years ended 30 June of that stated
Source: British Geological Survey, World Minerals Statistics
1998-2002, p. 94
World Mine Production for 2003
tonnes
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Mine Production |
| |
2002 |
2003 |
| USA |
790.000 |
800.000 |
| Argentina |
60.000 |
60.000 |
| Australia |
50.000 |
50.000 |
| Brazil |
100.000 |
75.000 |
| Colombia |
55.000 |
55.000 |
| Czech Republic |
300.000 |
400.000 |
| Egypt |
350.000 |
350.000 |
| France |
650.000 |
650.000 |
| Germany |
450.000 |
450.000 |
| Greece |
95.000 |
100.000 |
| India |
110.000 |
150.000 |
| Iran |
250.000 |
250.000 |
| Italy |
2.500.000 |
2.500.000 |
| Japan |
50.000 |
50.000 |
| Mexico |
325.000 |
330.000 |
| Norway |
75.000 |
75.000 |
| Poland |
200.000 |
200.000 |
| Portugal |
120.000 |
125.000 |
| Republic of Korea |
390.000 |
420.000 |
| South Africa |
57.000 |
54.000 |
| Spain |
450.000 |
450.000 |
| Thailand |
540.000 |
700.000 |
| Turkey |
1.200.000 |
1.700.000 |
| Venezuela |
140.000 |
140.000 |
| Other countries |
493.000 |
270.000 |
| World total |
9.800.000 |
10.400.000 |
Source: U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodities Summaries,
January 2004 - http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/
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