minerals
BORON
The current price is about 2,600 US$/Kg
The major global industrial-scale use of boron compounds (about 46% of end-use) is in production of glass fiber for boron-containing insulating and structural fiberglasses, especially in Asia. Boron compounds, chiefly borates, are commercially important; therefore, boron products are priced and sold based on their boric oxide (B2O3) content, varying by ore and compound and by the absence or presence of calcium and sodium.
CALCIUM
the current price is about 6.35 us $
Calcium is never found in this isolated state in nature, but exists instead in compounds. Calcium makes up about 4.2 percent of the Earth’s crust by weight. Once isolated, calcium is quite reactive and will form a grayish-white oxide and nitride coating when exposed to air. Gypsum, or calcium sulfate, is used in making plaster and also «plaster of Paris,» a heavy white powder that, when mixed with water, hardens into a cast to set fractured bones.
CESIUM
The current price(Cs≥99.5%) IS ABOUT 112 US$/g
Rubidium is mined from similar deposits, in relatively smaller quantities, as a byproduct of cesium production in pegmatites and as a byproduct of lithium production from lepidolite (hard-rock) mining and processing, making it no more readily available than cesium. Cesium chloride is used in analytical chemistry applications as a reagent, in high-temperature solders, as an intermediate in cesium metal production, in isopycnic centrifugation, as a radioisotope in nuclear medicine, as an insect repellent in agricultural applications, and in specialty glasses.
LITHIUM
The current price is about 152,800 US$/mt
Main countries with Lithium resources are Bolivia, 21 million tons; Argentina, 19.3 million tons; Chile, 9.6 million tons; United States, 7.9 million tons; Australia, 6.4 million tons and China, 5.1 million tons. Brine-based lithium sources were in various stages of development in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, China, and the United States; mineral-based lithium sources were in various stages of development in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Congo (Kinshasa), Czechia, Finland, Germany, Mali, Namibia, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, and Zimbabwe; and lithium-clay sources were in various stages of development in Mexico and the United States.
MAGNESIUM AND MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
The current price IS ABOUT 6,000 US$/mt average.
Principal magnesium compounds: Magnesium carbonate, MgCO3, occurs in nature as the mineral magnesite and is an important source of elemental magnesium. Although some magnesium sheet applications have been developed for automobiles, these were generally limited to expensive sports cars and luxury vehicles, automobiles where the higher price of magnesium is not a deterrent to its use.
PHOSPHOROUS
the current price is about 176.67 us$ pre metric.
The primary type of diagenetic phosphorus mineral formation in marine environments is the substitution of phosphate into calcium carbonate minerals such as calcite or aragonite. The accumulation of phosphorus in microbial cells during transitory immobilization also contributes to mineral formation by increasing the pool of phosphate that could react with cations to form minerals. Accumulation of phosphate within cells may also lead to phosphorus immobilization via mineral formation if phosphorus minerals are generated and stored within the cell.
POTASSIUM
The current price IS ABOUT 22,000 US$/mt
Potash refers to potassium compounds and potassium-bearing materials, most commonly potassium carbonate and includes a variety of mined and manufactured salts that contain the element potassium in water-soluble form. In agriculture, the term potash refers to potassic fertilizers, which are potassium chloride (KCl), potassium sulfate or sulfate of potash (SOP), and potassium magnesium sulfate (SOPM) or langbeinite.
RARE EARTH ELEMENTS
Prices and demand have risen dramatically over the past decade, China produces about 90% of the supply
Scandium is found in most rare earth element deposits and is classified as a rare earth element. Rare earth metals and alloys that contain them are used in many devices that people use every day such as computer memory, DVDs, rechargeable batteries, cell phones, catalytic converters, magnets, fluorescent lighting and much more. Although China is the world leader in rare earth production, they only control about 36% of the world’s reserves (44,000,000 metric tons).
RUBIDIUM
The current price((Rb≥99.5%) IS ABOUT 128 US$/g
Rubidium atoms are used in academic research, including the development of quantum-mechanics-based computing devices, a future application with potential for relatively high consumption of rubidium. Rubidium’s photoemissive properties make it useful for electrical-signal generators in motion-sensor devices, night-vision devices, photoelectric cells (solar panels), and photomultiplier tubes. The U.S. military frequency standard, the United States Naval Observatory (USNO) timescale, is based on 48 weighted atomic clocks, including 4 USNO rubidium fountain clocks.
SODIUM
The current price is about 2.32us$ pre 12 mg.
Sodium’s name is derived from soda. Much like lithium, sodium is a light, very soft, silvery-white metal. It is even softer than lithium and can be cut with a knife. Sodium is very reactive with air and water. If a sufficient quantity comes in contact with water, sodium can actually explode. Sodium compounds are used for a wide variety of household products, such as baking soda, lye, and table salt. Soap is a compound of sodium with fatty acids. Sodium carbonate is an important industrial chemical and used in making glass, paper, detergents and water treatment chemicals.
