4.3.3.1 Availability and Consumption 

The main consumption fields of fluorite in China are iron and steel smelting, non-ferrous metal smelting, fluorite chemical industry, aluminium-making industry, cement, glass and ceramics manufactures and so on. At the end of the 1980s and the early 1990s, the consumption of fluorite was relatively high and the annual consumption hit 0.97 million tons. Since 1991, its consumption began to decrease. The apparent consumption in 1997 was about 0.7 million tons, of which 13.3% was consumed in iron and steel smelting, 7.3% in the aluminum-making industry, 29.4% in the fluorite chemical industry, 40% in the cement and glass industries and 10.0% for other sectors. 

China is not only a major producer and consumer of fluorite, but also a large  exporter, and is an important partner of international fluorite trade. Chinese fluorite is exported to more than 40 countries and regions, scattered in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania . After 1989, the volume of export every year reaches over 1 million tons. It is mainly exported to Japan and then to the United States. According to  The Customs Statistics Yearbook of the People's Republic of China, the volume of export added up to 1.2937 million tons in 1997, the export value was US $ 129.634 million.  Volume of export was increased by 0.169 million tons in comparison with that in 1996, with an increase rate of 15% (Table 4.3.3).

Table 4.3.3 Production and export of fluorite in China(¡Á103 t)

At present, the annual production of fluorite in China is more than 3 million tons, the domestic consumption is 0.7~0.9 million tons, the export volume is 1.1~1.2 million tons, and the total consumption will not have an appreciable change in the near future. The situation of "supply exceeds demand" will exist over a long period of time.

4.3.3.2 Trends 

Fluorite is a kind of strategic materials. Though fluorite resources in China and even in the world are rich, they are limited totally and the resource protection should be streng-thened. With the development of the iron and steel, aluminum-making, chemical and building materials industries, in spite of decreasing specific consumption of fluorite, the demand of fluorite as a whole increases gradually, and China is not an exception. Especially with the progress of science and technology, the consumption fields of fluorite will be widened. It can be estimated that the gross volume of supply and demand will increase at a rate of 3%~5% annually. Up to 2000, the world gross demand of fluorite will remain stable at around 4.5 million tons, and will be around 5 million tons in 2010. 

As described above, whether for the deposits mined for fluorite only or for the deposits from which fluorite is mined as a by-product, the fluorite resources should be comprehen-sively developed and utilized and the ecological environment should be protected.  

First of all, fluorite mines must strengthen the geological environmental protection to avoid collapse and caving-in, ground cracks, landslides, mud flows and soil desertification. Great efforts should be made in tree planting, grass growing and land reclamation to protect natural landscapes. At the same time an idea of saving natural resources should be fostered and the work of comprehensive development and utilization should be done well. All elements that can be recovered and utilized should be recovered and utilized. The resources shouldn't be wasted incautiously. Thirdly, it is necessary to intensify the management of tailings, waste sludges and exhausted water. The development and utilization of waste sludges and tailings, and the treatment of wastewater should be done well. A tailingless, waste sludge-free and exhausted water-free production should be achieved to ensure green hills, luxuriant grass, clear water and beautiful environment in the mining areas.