Antimony worldwide is used primarily as a flame retardant
and as an alloy in batteries, with a wide variety of other
minor uses, including munitions, solder, ceramics and
others.
Midas Gold’s
FACTS ON
Antimony Uses - Worldwide
World Antimony Uses in 2000
Other uses
20%
Antimony is a metal which occurs naturally in the earth’s
crust. The product is sold commercially in the form of grey,
odourless pieces of metal in massive form and occasionally
in powder form. Most of the antimony mined today comes
from China, which supplies approximately 90% of the
world’s total. In 2010, the total global volume of antimony
(1)
production was approximately 167,000 metric tonnes.
The price of antimony has increased significantly over the
past 18 months.
Antimony Uses - USA
Antimony trioxide, which in 2010 represented approximately
75%(1) of reported antimony consumed in the US, is used in a
wide variety of industrial applications, principally as a
“synergist” with flame retardant chemicals and as a catalyst in
the manufacture of polyester (PET).(2)
US Antimony Uses in 2000 (4)
$8.00
Pigments
9%
$7.00
Ceramics &
glass
10%
$6.00
$5.00
$4.00
$3.00
$1.00
$0.00
2006 2007 2008 2009
778.724.4700
midasgoldcorp.com
Other uses
10%
Flame
Retardants
57%
Plastics
stabilizers &
catalysts
10%
Lead-acid
batteries
4%
$2.00
Midas Gold Corp.
Suite 1250
999 W. Hastings St.
Vancouver, BC
V6C 2W2
Flame
Retardants
60%
Batteries &
alloys
20%
Antimony Prices
For more info please
contact:
(4)
2010
Q1
2010 2010 2010 2011 2011
Q1
Q2
Q2 Q3
Q4
LINKS:
http://www.financialpost.com/markets/data/commodity-cash_pric
es.html
http://www.mineralprices.com
http://www.antimony.net
ANTIMONY FACTS (4)
Antimony (atomic number 51 and atomic weight
121.76) is located in period 5 group 11 (or VA), of
the periodic table of the elements and is, in
appearance a lustrous tin-white metal. Although
it is usually described as a metal, it possesses
mixed metallic and non-metallic characteristics
and is more properly described as a semi metal or
metalloid. Unlike typical metals, it is not
malleable, but hard and brittle and can be
crushed to a powder. Compared with metals,
antimony is a poor conductor of electricity and
heat.
LINKS: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimony
Flame retardant uses(3):
- TVs, computers and household appliances
- Industrial electrical installations, optical cables, main
adapters and portable electronics
- Plastic casings, resin circuit boards, switches and
components
- Upholstered furniture, insulation and decorative foams
and building materials
- Clothing, hospital linen and technical fire-resistant
textiles
- Seats, cables and plastic structures in motor vehicles
Antimony metal, which in 2010 represented approximately
15%(1) of reported antimony consumed in the US, is a highly
crystalline metalloid that gives metal its hardness and a
much better and sharper cast.(2)
Other minor uses of antimony include(2):
- Semiconductors and recordable media
- Welding and soldering products
- Components of motor vehicles, machinery, mechanical
appliances, electrical
Table 1: Antimony Production & Reserves
Antimony Production & Reserves
According to the US Geological Survey, China dominates the world
production of antimony. Estimated metric tons of antimony
produces and in reserves by country for 2010 are illustrated in Table
1.
World Antimony Production in 2010 (4)
Bolivia
3%
China
90%
Russia
2%
South Africa
2%
Tajikistan
1%
Turkey
1%
Canada
1%
Country
China
Bolivia
Russia
South Africa
Tajikistan
Others
Production
(Metric Tons)
150,000
4,980
3,000
3,000
2,000
4,040
Percent
167,020
Total
Percent
89.8%
3.0%
1.8%
1.8%
1.2%
2.4%
Reserves
(Metric Tons)
950,000
310,000
350,000
21,000
50,000
150,000
100.0%
1,831,000
100.0%
51.9%
16.9%
19.1%
1.1%
2.7%
8.2%
LINKS:
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/antimony/mcs-2011-antim.pdf
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/antimony/mcs-2010-antim.pdf
Sources of US Antimony
The US gets most of its antimony from China.
Sources of US Antimony in 2010 (4)
Taiwan
1%
Netherlands
World Antimony Reserves by Country(4)
Tajikistan
South Africa 3%
1%
1%
Japan
1%
Other
8%
Russia
19%
Italy
1%
France
1%
China
52%
Mexico
7%
Belgium
11%
Bolivia
4%
China
73%
Bolivia
17%
LINKS:
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/antimony/myb1-2010-antim.pdf
Antimony Market Factors (6)
Supply from China is declining due to the Chinese government:
1. reducing the number of antimony miners and smelters;
2. declaring antimony as a strategic mental; and
3. imposing antimony production quotas since 2009.
In 2010, the USGS reported(7) that two actions caused production
reductions in China, the world’s leading antimony producer. In
March, the Government stated it would not approve any new
projects for antimony before June 30, 2011; also in March, the
Government shut down about 100 antimony smelters in China’s
dominant antimony-producing region, an action aimed at closing
illegal mines and curbing pollution.
Global Demand is increasing as the:
1. Chinese economy continues to grow at approximately 10% per
year; and
2. Western world is increasing the requirements on fire-proofing
of many articles.
(1) USGS 2010 Minerals Yearbook - Antimony
(2) International Antimony Association Factsheet on
Antimony, May 2011
(3) International Antimony Association Factsheet on
Antimony Trioxide, May 2011
(4) USGS Mineral Commodity Profiles - Antimony, 2004
(5) USGS 2010 Minerals Yearbook and Quarterly Updates - Antimony
(6) Northwest Resources Limited - Antimony Factsheet
(7) USGS 2011 Mineral Commodities Summary - Antimony
Supply Risk
The British Geological Survey’s Risk List 2011, a supply risk index for
chemical elements which are of economic value, indicated antimony as
the element with the highest risk of supply disruption. The list is
determined by a number of factors which might impact on supply. These
include:
- Scarcity
- Production concentration
- Reserve base distribution
- Governance
In the Risk List, antimony was ranked in the highest category of supply
risk, even higher than rare earth elements.
LINKS:
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/statistics/riskList.html
www.midasgoldcorp.com