Phosphate - Why is it important?
Phosphorus (P) is a ubiquitous element, found in small quantities and a nutrient for all plants and animals integral to plant growth and cellular function. A vital component of DNA, phosphorous plays a key role in regulating metabolic processes and in the phospholipids that form all cell membranes. It cannot be manufactured. A naturally occurring but highly reactive element, its main source is phosphate rock. Phosphorus has many commercial uses in manufacturing and everyday products, but is most important as a component of fertilizers.
The phosphorus within Phosphate Rock is usually bound within a calcium-phosphate mineral, called apatite or as one of several phosphates, or salts of phosphorous, such as P2O5. The largest deposits are found in North Africa, US and China, although other deposits occur, most often as sedimentary higher grade deposits or as lower grade igneous phosphate rock that is beneficiated.
Within fertilizers, the three key elements of Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) and Phosphorous (P), are usually noted in percent, with P being essential to photosynthesis, and plant growth. P is used world-wide as a both a direct application fertilizer and in chemical based fertilizer. The USGS estimates that 95% of the global production of phosphate is used in agricultural production to feed a an ever growing world population. It estimates that USA, Morocco, China and Russia represent some 70% or recoverable phosphate reserves.
The clear importance of phosphorous to life has resulted in global research on all aspects of mining, production and use, including optimization of plant absorption. Concern over long term supply of phosphates gave rise to initiatives such as the Global Phosphorous Research Initiative (GPRI -- www.phosphorousfutures.net), an international collaborative research effort concerned with optimizing world use of this non-renewable resource.
That some debate has emerged as to whether world phosphorous resources will follow a "peak phosphate" production period suggests a growing interest in finding additional resources. It brings to the fore the obvious need for exploration to find new deposits and research to continue to improve best practices for agricultural use of this essential world resource. For Mali, with its agricultural regions located along the Niger River, a domestic source of natural phosphate rock would appear to offer a transformative economic fertilizer and potential additional export product.
The phosphorus within Phosphate Rock is usually bound within a calcium-phosphate mineral, called apatite or as one of several phosphates, or salts of phosphorous, such as P2O5. The largest deposits are found in North Africa, US and China, although other deposits occur, most often as sedimentary higher grade deposits or as lower grade igneous phosphate rock that is beneficiated.
Within fertilizers, the three key elements of Nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) and Phosphorous (P), are usually noted in percent, with P being essential to photosynthesis, and plant growth. P is used world-wide as a both a direct application fertilizer and in chemical based fertilizer. The USGS estimates that 95% of the global production of phosphate is used in agricultural production to feed a an ever growing world population. It estimates that USA, Morocco, China and Russia represent some 70% or recoverable phosphate reserves.
The clear importance of phosphorous to life has resulted in global research on all aspects of mining, production and use, including optimization of plant absorption. Concern over long term supply of phosphates gave rise to initiatives such as the Global Phosphorous Research Initiative (GPRI -- www.phosphorousfutures.net), an international collaborative research effort concerned with optimizing world use of this non-renewable resource.
That some debate has emerged as to whether world phosphorous resources will follow a "peak phosphate" production period suggests a growing interest in finding additional resources. It brings to the fore the obvious need for exploration to find new deposits and research to continue to improve best practices for agricultural use of this essential world resource. For Mali, with its agricultural regions located along the Niger River, a domestic source of natural phosphate rock would appear to offer a transformative economic fertilizer and potential additional export product.
