DOMESTIC PRODUCTION the mineral in 1985, was $88.43 per short 
 ton. Average values for imported strontium 
 With the closure of FMC Corp.'s Modesto, compounds varied according to the
type of 
CA, plant in 1984, CPC became the sole compound. 
domestic producer of strontium carbonate 
from imported celestite. Several other firms           FOREIGN TRADE 
manufactured various strontium com 
pounds from strontium carbonate in 1985.  Mexico supplied all of the celestite
im 
 Church & Dwight Co. Inc. purchased a ported by the United States.
Canada,
China, 
49% share in a Mexican producer of barium Japan, Mexico, and several countries
in 
and strontium carbonates. Church & Western Europe were the sources
of
imports 
Dwight intended to market the strontium of various strontium compounds. 
carbonate in the United States through its  Because of the closure of FMC's
facility in 
marketing and sales network. 1984, foreign competition for domestic 
strontium markets was strong. Imports of 
CONSUMPTION AND USES 
strontium materials in 1985 were more 
 Strontium carbonate used in the manu- than those of the preceding year in
all facture of faceplate glass for color television categories. Unwrought
strontium metal impicture tubes accounted for more than one- ports increased
more than six times the half of domestic consumption of strontium 1984 level.
The leading suppliers of stroncompounds. Strontium carbonate was also tium
carbonate, in descending order, were used to make ferrite ceramic magnets
and the Federal Republic of Germany, Mexico, in the electrolytic production
of zinc, and Canada. Strontium nitrate imports 
 Strontium nitrate was used in pyrotech- nearly doubled in response to the
decrease nics and signals. That sector remained the in domestic supply. 
second largest consumer of strontium com- According to the Port Import/Export
Repounds. Other strontium compounds for porting Service of the Journal of
Commerce, domestic consumption included strontium exports of various strontium
compounds chromate used as a corrosion inhibitor in were about 38 tons. These
compounds inpigments, strontium chloride used in the cluded the carbonate,
chloride, chromate, manufacture of toothpaste for sensitive peroxide, silicate,
and zirconate of stronteeth, and strontium phosphate used in tium. 
fluorescent lights. 
 Table 4.—U.S. imports for consumption of 
 Table 3.—U.S. estimated distribution of strontium mineralsl by
country

primary strontium compounds, by end use __________________________________

                 (Percent) _______________________________________ 
End use 1983 1984 1985 
Electrolytic production of zinc  3 6 6 
Ferrite ceramic magnets 9 11 12 
Pigments and fillers 4 8 8 
Pyrotechnics and signals 14 14 15 
Television picture tubes 64 53 52 
Other (1) 1 1 
Unidentified 6 7 6 
 Total 100 100 100 
 
1984 
 
 
1985 
 Quan- 
Country tity (short tons) 
Value 
(thou- 
sands) 
Quantity 
(short 
tons) 
Value (thousends) 
' Less than 1/2 unit. 
 (2) $1 —— 
 46,873 3,940 37,552 
 1,978 352 —— 
PRICES 
$3,321 
Total ~48,852 4,293 37,552 3,321 
 ' Celestite (strontium sulfate). 
 2Less than 1/2 unit. 
 3Data do not add to total shown because of independent rounding. 
 
 Source: Bureau of the Census. 
 OTHER INDUSTRIAL MINERALS 1075The average value of imported celestitefrom
Mexico, which was the sole supplier of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Madagascar - - - 
Mexico        
 Spain -