STRONTIUM:

Strontium is an alkaline earth metal and the 15th most abundant element found on Earth. It shares similar characteristics with calcium and barium.Strontium is sourced from minerals such as strontianite (strontium carbonate) and celestite (strontium sulfate), and it is extracted through mining operations in various countries including Mexico, Turkey, Iran, Spain, and Algeria.

ORE:

The chief natural ores of strontium are celestine and strontianite. It is found as strontium sulfate (SrSO₄) in celestine and as strontium carbonate (SrCO₃) in strontianite.

MINING:

The Celestine and strontianite ores are mined from the earth using surface mining methods. In this process, the open pit method is employed. In the initial step, the quality of strontium ores from the selected area is examined, and the distribution of ore in the area is measured. The establishment of the mine occurs only after the necessary requirements outlined in the analyzed reports are met. The mine is constructed with wall benches in a step-down alignment, and in-pit ramps are carved out to serve as roads for the transportation of ores, labor, waste, and machinery.

The strontium ores are extracted through drilling and blasting. The excavated ores are then collected and transported by trucks to a nearby processing unit. Within the mine, a waste pool is dug for the disposal of ore tailings from the initial processing unit, which typically contains poisonous sulfur particles. Open pit mining is commonly chosen for its low cost, ease of shutdown, and reduced risks compared to other mining techniques.

PROCESSING AND EXTRACTION

The collected raw ores of strontium are crushed and ground into tiny particles. The strontium sulfate from celestine, which is the largest contributor of strontium, is converted into strontium carbonate by leaching with sodium carbonate or by roasting with coal. The resulting strontium carbonate is used as a colorant for fireworks.

For the production of metal, strontium oxide is reduced by aluminum. It can also be produced from the electrolysis process of strontium chloride. Seventy-five percent of the world's strontium production comes from China, with the remaining amount originating from Mexico and Spain.

DEFINITION:

The most common strontium mineral, celestite, which consists mainly of strontium sulfate, was exclusively imported from Mexico. A company in Georgia was the only major U.S. producer of strontium compounds, and analysis of celestite import data indicates that production at this operation has decreased substantially since 2001.

PROPERTIES:

Strontium is a grey/silvery metal that is softer than calcium and even more reactive in water, reacting upon contact to produce strontium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. It burns in air to produce both strontium oxide and strontium nitride, but it only forms the oxide spontaneously at room temperature since it does not react with nitrogen below 380°C.

APPLICATION:

1. Strontium (Sr) serves as the active component in Metastron, a radiopharmaceutical employed for bone pain resulting from metastatic bone cancer. Acting akin to calcium, strontium is selectively incorporated into bone at sites of heightened osteogenesis. This targeted localization concentrates radiation exposure on the cancerous lesion.

2. Strontium is additionally utilized in cancer therapy due to its beta emission and long half-life, making it ideal for superficial radiotherapy.

3. Moreover, strontium is a constituent of AJ62 alloy, a robust magnesium alloy utilized in car and motorcycle engines by BMW.

Related Mining