1032 
MINERALS YEARBOOK, 1985 WORLD REVIEW 
World production was estimated to be 
556,000 tons, a slight increase over 1984 
production of about 545,000 tons. The United States and the Republic of South
Africa, 
together, accounted for 93% of the total 
1985 output. Vermiculite concentrate pro- 
duction in the Republic of South Africa increased 6% to about 203,000 tons,
and exportsaccounted for 86% of production. 
 
' Industry economist, Division of Industrial Minerals. 
Table 4—Vermiculite: World production, by country' 
(Short tons) 
Country 1981 1982 1983 l9Si~ l98S~ 
 
Argentma                                 
Brazii                                    
Egypt -  
3557 
15,771 
800 
3697 
15,497 
309 
4355 
10,888 
331 
4906 
10,094 e360 
4400 
11,000 
~ 
India                                    
3995 
2280 
2658 
2153 
2200 
Japane                                   
 
Kenya~~                              
19000 
e2,900 
19000 
1,715 
19000 
e1300 
19000 
 961 
19000 
1,100 
Mexico                                   
657 
575 
440 
557 
550 
South Africa, Republic of                      
Tanzania                                 
United States (sold andused by producers)          
210,101 
(3) 
320,000 
201,327 
(3) 
316,000 
168,691 
(3) 
282,000 
191,536 
(3) 
315,000 
' 202,902 NA 
2314,000 
 Total r576,781 r560,400 489,663 544,567 555,512 
 
 Estimated °Preliminary Revised NA Not available 
 ' Excludes production by centrally planned economy countries Table includes
data available through July 15, 1986. 
 ' Reported figure 
 3Revised to "Not available." Output is not officially reported
and available
information is inadequate for formulating reliable estimates of output levels,
if any.