STRONTIUM

      (Data in metric tons of contained strontium,1/ unless noted)

Domestic Production and Use:  No strontium minerals have been produced in the United
States since 1959.  The most common strontium mineral, celestite, which consists
primarily of strontium sulfate, was imported exclusively from Mexico.  A company in
Georgia was the only major U.S. producer of strontium compounds.  Primary strontium
compounds were used in the faceplate glass of color television picture tubes, 69%;
ferrite ceramic magnets, 11%; pyrotechnics and signals, 9%; and other, 11%.

Salient Statistics--United States:   1991      1992      1993       1994      1995e/
Production, strontium minerals         --        --        --         --        --
Imports for consumption:
 Strontium minerals                14,600    19,700    11,600     16,000    15,000
 Strontium compounds                9,550    13,000    15,300     20,000    22,000
Exports, compounds                  1,080       650       260        110     1,300
Shipments from Government 
 stockpile excesses                    --        --        --         --        --
Consumption, apparent, celestite                      
 and compounds                          W         W         W          W         W
Price, average value of mineral 
 imports at port of exportation, 
 dollars per ton                       77        68        73         68        72
Stocks, consumer, yearend, 
 celestite only                         W         W         W          W         W
Net import reliance2/ as a percent of
 apparent consumption                 100       100       100        100       100

Recycling:  None.

Import Sources (1991-94):  Strontium minerals:  Mexico, 100%.  Strontium compounds: 
Mexico, 84%; Germany, 15%; and other, 1%.  Total imports:  Mexico, 93% and Germany,
7%.

Tariff: Item            Number     Most favored nation (MFN)   Mexico    Non-MFN3/
                                           12/31/95           12/31/95   12/31/95
Celestite            2530.90.0010            Free               Free       Free.
Alkaline earth 
 metals (strontium 
 and barium)         2805.22.1000         3.7% ad val.          Free     25% ad val.
Compounds:
 Strontium 
  nitrate            2834.29.2000         4.2% ad val.          Free     25% ad val.
 Strontium 
  carbonate          2836.92.0000         4.2% ad val.          Free     25% ad val.
 Strontium 
  oxide, hydroxide, 
  peroxide           2816.20.0000         4.2% ad val.          Free     25% ad val.

Depletion Allowance:  22% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign).

Government Stockpile:
                       
                       Stockpile Status--9-30-95

             Uncommitted   Committed     Authorized       Disposals
Material      inventory    inventory    for disposal    Jan.-Sept. 95

Celestite1/     5,100         --            5,100             --

Prepared by Joyce A. Ober, (703) 648-7717.

                               STRONTIUM

Events, Trends, and Issues:  Although there is celestite in the National Defense
Stockpile, none of it is stockpile grade; its total value is listed as zero.  The
stockpile goal was reduced to zero in 1969, and at that time the stockpile contained
both stockpile- and nonstockpile-grade material.  Since then, all the stockpile-grade
celestite has been sold.  Although the nonstockpile-grade celestite has been offered
for sale, none has been sold since 1979.  The fiscal year 1996 Annual Materials Plan,
announced at the end of September by the Defense Materials Stockpile Center,
identified 3,300 tons of celestite to be offered for disposal.

World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base:4/
                        Mine production     Reserves5/ Reserve base5/
                          1994       1995e/
United States               --         --         --      1,360,000
Algeria                  5,400      5,400
China                   35,000     35,000
Iran                    20,000     20,000
Mexico                  70,000     75,000     Other:         Other:
Pakistan                 1,500      1,500  6,800,000     10,600,000
Spain                   12,000     12,000
Tajikistan                  NA         NA
Turkey                  40,000     40,000
United Kingdom           1,000         --                         
 World total (may 
  be rounded)       6/ 180,000 6/ 190,000  6,800,000     12,000,000

World Resources:  Resources in the United States are several times the reserve base. 
World resources, although not thoroughly evaluated, are believed to exceed 1 billion
tons.

Substitutes:  Although it is possible to substitute for strontium in some of its
applications, such a change would adversely affect product performance and/or cost. 
For example, barium could replace strontium in color television picture tube glass
only after extensive circuit redesign to reduce operating voltages that produce
harmful secondary X-rays.  Barium replacement of strontium in ferrite ceramic magnets
would decrease the maximum energy and temperature characteristics of the magnet. 
Substituting for strontium in pyrotechnics would be impractical because the desired
brilliance and visibility are imparted only by strontium and its compounds.

e/Estimated.  NA Not available.  W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary
data.
1/The strontium content of celestite is 43.88%; this amount was used to convert units
of celestite.
2/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock
changes.
3/See Appendix B.
4/Metric tons of strontium minerals.
5/See Appendix C for definitions.
6/Excludes Tajikistan.

                              Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996