FELDSPAR

             (Data in thousand metric tons, unless noted)

Domestic Production and Use:  U.S. feldspar production (including aplite) in 1995 had
an estimated value of $32 million.  The three largest producers accounted for about
two-thirds of the output, with five other companies supplying the remainder. 
Operations in North Carolina provided more than 60% of the output and facilities in
five other States contributed smaller quantities.

Production of lithium ores and mica yielded moderate quantities of byproduct or
coproduct feldspar and feldspar-silica mixtures and feldspar processors reported
coproduct recovery of mica and silica sand.

Feldspar is ground for industry use to about 20 mesh for glassmaking and to 200 mesh
or finer for most ceramic and filler applications.  It was estimated that feldspar
shipments went to at least 31 States and to foreign destinations, including Canada
and Mexico.  In ceramics and glass, feldspar functions as a flux.  Estimated 1995
end-use distribution of domestic feldspar was glass, 63%; and pottery and other, 37%.

Salient Statistics--United States:     1991      1992      1993      1994      1995e/
Production, marketable                  580       726       770       765       770
Imports for consumption                  18        13         7         7         8
Exports                                   8        18        18        17        17
Consumption, apparent                   590       721       759       755       761
Price, average value, marketable 
 production, dollars per ton          44.83     39.31     40.78     40.78     41.56
Stocks, producer, yearend1/              NA        NA        NA        NA        NA
Employment, mine and preparation plant  430       400       400       400       400
Net import reliance2/ as a percent of
 apparent consumption                     E         2         E         E         E

Recycling:  Insignificant.

Import Sources (1991-94):  Mexico, 99%; and other, 1%.

Tariff: Item       Number      Most favored nation (MFN)         Non-MFN3/
                                         12/31/95                12/31/95
Feldspar        2529.10.0000               Free                    49›/t.

Depletion Allowance:  14% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign).

Government Stockpile:  None.

Prepared by Michael J. Potter, (703) 648-7723.

                               FELDSPAR

Events, Trends, and Issues:  Feldspar consumption in plumbing fixtures, tile, and
glass fiber insulation reflected trends in construction activity.  Total construction
spending for 1995 was projected by a non-Government source to show an increase of 2%
to 3% compared with that of 1994.  In residential construction, total housing starts
were expected to decrease about 8% in 1995 to 1.3 million units.  All segments of
nonresidential construction were projected to have good growth:  commercial (office,
retail, and hotel construction), industrial, and institutional.  Residential
remodeling was also active.

Shipments of glass containers, feldspar's largest end use, were forecast to decrease
about 3% in 1995, according to the same non-Government source cited above.  Glass has
faced competition from plastic and other types of containers.

World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base:
                        Mine production   Reserves and reserve base4/
                         1994     1995e/
United States             765      770    Significant in the United States
Brazil                    145      145    and assumed to be similar in 
France                    300      310    other countries.
Germany                   350      350 
India                      67       70
Italy                   1,600    1,600
Japan                      53       60
Korea, South              500      510
Mexico                    130      130
Norway                    100      100
Russia                     55       55
Spain                     200      210
Thailand                  600      600
Turkey                    500      500
Uzbekistan                 70       70
Venezuela                 230      230
Other countries           585      590
 World total            6,250    6,300

World Resources:  Identified and hypothetical resources of feldspar are more than
adequate to meet anticipated world demand.  Quantitative data on resources of
feldspar existing in granites, pegmatites, and feldspathic sands generally have not
been compiled.  There is ample geologic evidence that resources are immense, although
not always conveniently accessible from the principal centers of consumption.

Substitutes:  Feldspar can be replaced in some of its end uses by feldspar-silica
mixtures, clays, talc, pyrophyllite, spodumene, or electric-furnace slag.  Imported
nepheline syenite, however, was the major alternate material.

e/Estimated.  E Net exporter.  NA Not available.
1/Change in stocks assumed to be zero for apparent consumption and net import reliance
calculations.
2/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock
changes. 
3/See Appendix B.
4/See Appendix C for definitions.

                              Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996