Magnesium, its Alloys and Compounds By Deborah A. Kramer U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-341 This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards (or with the North American Stratigraphic Code). Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Introduction and history.......................................................................................................................................................................3 Occurrence............................................................................................................................................................................................3 Properties..............................................................................................................................................................................................4 Sources and supplies............................................................................................................................................................................5 Magnesium oxide............................................................................................................................................................................5 Magnesium carbonate.....................................................................................................................................................................8 Magnesium chloride........................................................................................................................................................................8 Magnesium hydroxide.....................................................................................................................................................................8 Magnesium sulfate ..........................................................................................................................................................................9 Magnesium metal............................................................................................................................................................................9 Prices...................................................................................................................................................................................................13 Magnesium compounds ................................................................................................................................................................13 Magnesium metal..........................................................................................................................................................................13 Uses and market demand ...................................................................................................................................................................15 Magnesium oxide..........................................................................................................................................................................15 Magnesium carbonate...................................................................................................................................................................15 Magnesium chloride......................................................................................................................................................................16 Magnesium hydroxide...................................................................................................................................................................16 Magnesium sulfate ........................................................................................................................................................................17 Magnesium metal..........................................................................................................................................................................18 Manufacturing, production, and shipment........................................................................................................................................21 Mining............................................................................................................................................................................................21 Magnesium oxide..........................................................................................................................................................................21 Magnesium carbonate...................................................................................................................................................................21 Magnesium chloride......................................................................................................................................................................21 Magnesium hydroxide...................................................................................................................................................................22 Magnesium sulfate ........................................................................................................................................................................23 Magnesium metal..........................................................................................................................................................................23 Economic aspects...............................................................................................................................................................................24 Tariffs and depletion provisions...................................................................................................................................................24 Grades, specifications, and quality control.......................................................................................................................................25 Magnesium oxide..........................................................................................................................................................................25 Magnesium metal..........................................................................................................................................................................25 Analytical methods........................................................................................................................................................................26 Production methods..................................................................................................................................................................26 Referee methods .......................................................................................................................................................................26 Environmental concerns.....................................................................................................................................................................26 Magnesium compounds ................................................................................................................................................................26 Magnesium metal..........................................................................................................................................................................26 Recycling and disposal ......................................................................................................................................................................27 Health and safety factors....................................................................................................................................................................27 References cited.................................................................................................................................................................................28 FIGURE 1. Average free market magnesium prices..................................................................................................................................14 TABLES 1. World magnesite reserves and reserve base.............................................................................................................................4 2. Properties of magnesium and its compounds ...........................................................................................................................4 3. World magnesium compounds annual production capacity, yearend 2000...........................................................................5 4. U.S. historical salient magnesium compounds statistics.........................................................................................................7 5. U.S. magnesium oxide (magnesia) statistics............................................................................................................................7 6. U.S. magnesium chloride statistics...........................................................................................................................................8 7. U.S. magnesium hydroxide statistics........................................................................................................................................9