fluorite and aluminium

On another aside it is interesting to follow the fluorite market prospects as MAK work to bring themselves into cash flow with their phosphate plans.

Obviously another very unsexy mineral but unbeknown to everyone completely essential for some very indispensible uses.

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Fluorite

The consumption of fluorite is directly related to the production of fluoridric acid (HF), steel and aluminium. Fluoridric acid is the basis for the manufacture of fluor carbonates, synthetic criolite and aluminium fluoride. Fluorides are used to produce gases for refrigeration (freon gas) and aerosol. Freon gas is used in countless household appliances (air-conditioning units, refrigerators, freezers, etc...) and aerosol is used in pest killers. Criolite and aluminium fluoride are used in the process of production of metallic aluminium. In the manufacture of steel and of ferro-alloys, fluorite is used to produce fluid slag that help eliminate impurities.
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With a major aluminium boom coming as a result of high oil prices (trucks and trains need to lighten their gross unloaded masses by displacing heavier iron ore components with aluminium) the fluorite market could provide for some on-going interest beyond the phosphate ...