What is phosphate mining used for?
Worldwide, more than 85 percent of the phosphate rock mined is used to manufacture phosphate fertilizers. The remaining 15 percent is used to make elemental phosphorus and animal feed supplements, or is applied directly to soils. Elemental phosphorus is used to manufacture a wide range of chemical compounds.
What is phosphate used for in fertilizer?
The second of the Big 3, phosphorus, is linked to a plant’s ability to use and store energy, including the process of photosynthesis. It’s also needed to help plants grow and develop normally. Phosphorus in commercial fertilizers comes from phosphate rock.
Why is there so much phosphorus in Morocco?
Phosphate is locally abundant in the form of sand-sized detrital grains. These were derived from Cretaceous and Tertiary phosphatic rocks cropping out on the shelf, by erosion during the Pleistocene. The sand-sized phosphatic detritus is concentrated in relict placer-type deposits near parent-rock outcrops.
Who buys phosphate from Morocco?
But with just five countries sharing nearly all of the world’s phosphate reserves — and farmers dependent on the resource to keep feeding the world’s growing population — there aren’t many other sellers who can match Morocco’s output. The United States remains the biggest importer of Moroccan phosphate.
Is phosphate mining sustainable?
It is well known that phosphate is a non-renewable resource essential for plant growth and crop production, and it is, therefore, vital to feeding the fast growing population of the world.
Is potash and phosphate the same?
Both are used to produce fertilizers, but they are not interchangeable. Potash and phosphate are both used to produce fertilizers, which are becoming increasingly important as demand for food grows. However, potash and phosphate have different roles in crop growth, and they cannot be used interchangeably.
Who has the most phosphate in the world?
Morocco
In 2017, the US Geological Survey estimated that the phosphate reserves around the world amounted to approximately 68 billion metric tons….Countries With the Largest Phosphate Reserves.
| Rank | Country | Phosphate Reserves (% of World’s Total) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morocco | 70 |
| 2 | China | 5 |
| 3 | Syria | 3 |
| 4 | Algeria | 3 |
Which country has the most phosphate?
As of 2021, there were reserves of approximately 50 billion metric tons of phosphate rock in Morocco, making it the country with the largest reserves of this commodity in the world.
Is phosphate a carcinogen?
Chronic (long-term) exposure to white phosphorus in humans results in necrosis of the jaw, termed “phossy jaw.” EPA has classified white phosphorus as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity. No information is available on the assessment of personal exposure to white phosphorus.
Is there phosphate in tap water?
The water running through the system came from the local drinking water supply, this water is treated with chlorine and has an average phosphate concentration of 1 mg/L.