4.3.2.1 Production 

In the past 50 years, the production of fluorite products has developed quickly.  50 years ago, the production of fluorite was carried out only in one or two provinces (regions). After entering into the 1970s and even the 1980s the 1990s, almost all provinces (regions) with fluorite resources produce fluorite. The output of fluorite in China has increased from 2,500 tons in 1949, to 3.7684 million tons in 1997 ( Table 4.3.3), which was far higher than that ( 0.55 million tons) of Mexico, which is the largest fluorite producter among fo-reign countries. The production of fluorite in Zhejiang Province is the highest.  

Since the 1990s, the annual production of fluorite has retained more than 0.70 million tons. The production in Inner Mongolia, Guangdong, Henan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangxi and Hunan hits more than 0.1 million tons respectively. The structure of products includes metallurgical grade fluorite lumps and acid grade refined fluorite and building materials grade fluorite powder and so on.

4.3.2.2 Distribution of Production  

Fluorite mining enterprises and production in China basically accord with the distribution characteristics of fluorite resources, and are mainly concentrated in provinces (regions) of East and South-central China in the eastern part of China. The fluorite enterprises in these provinces (regions) are numerous and are characterized by large scale and high outputs. The key enterprises of fluorite production are as follows: Dongfeng Fluorite Group Co., Zhejiang, Fluorite Mines Co., Zhejiang, Hong'an Fluorite Mine, Hubei, Taolin Lead-Zinc (Fluorite) Mine, Hunan, Minggang Fluorite Mine, Henan and so on. The fluorite enterprises in  provinces (regions) in North China and Southwest China, in comparison with those in the eastern part of China, are few in number, small in scale and yield low outputs.