U.S.Geological Survey (USGS): Antimony

Statistics and Information: The natural sulfide of antimony was known and used in Biblical times as medicine and as a cosmetic. Antimony in its elemental form is a silvery white, brittle crystalline solid that exhibits poor electrical and heat conductivity properties. Commercial forms of antimony are generally ingots, broken pieces, granules, and cast cake. Other forms are powder, shot, and single crystals.

Estimates of the abundance of antimony in the Earth's crust range from 0.2 to 0.5 parts per million. Antimony is chalcophile, occurring with sulfur and the heavy metals, lead, copper, and silver. Over a hundred minerals of antimony are found in nature. Stibnite (Sb₂S₃) is the predominant ore mineral of antimony.

The most important use of antimony metal is as a hardener in lead for storage batteries. The metal also finds applications in solders and other alloys. Antimony trioxide is the most important of the antimony compounds and is primarily used in flame-retardant formulations. hese flame-retardant applications include such markets as children's clothing, toys, aircraft and automobile seat covers.

Antimony
(Data in thousand metric tons of Antimony content unless otherwise noted)

U.S. Domestic Production and Use: One mine in Nevada produced some antimony concentrate in 2008. Primary antimony metal and oxide was produced by one company in Montana, using foreign feedstock. The estimated distribution of antimony uses was as follows: flame retardants, 40%; transportation, including batteries, 22%; chemicals, 14%; ceramics and glass, 11%; and others, 13%.

U.S. Recycling: Traditionally, the bulk of secondary antimony has been recovered as antimonial lead, most of which was generated by and then consumed by the battery industry. Changing trends in that industry in recent years, however, have generally reduced the amount of secondary antimony produced; the trend to low-maintenance batteries has tilted the balance of consumption away from antimony and toward calcium as an additive.

U.S. Import Sources (2004-07): Metal: China, 67%; Mexico, 11%; Peru, 8%; and other, 14%. Ore and concentrate: China, 66%; Bolivia, 2%; and other, 32%. Oxide: China, 47%; Mexico, 40%; Belgium, 7%; and other, 6%. Total: China, 51%; Mexico, 34%; Belgium, 6%; and other, 9%.

U.S. Tariff: None

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

Events, Trends, and Issues: In 2008, antimony production from domestic source materials was derived mostly from the recycling of lead-acid batteries. One mine in Nevada produced some antimony concentrate. Recycling supplied only a minor portion of estimated domestic consumption. In recent years, the number of primary antimony smelters has been reduced, as smelters in New Jersey and Texas were closed in 2004. Only one domestic smelter, in Montana, continues to make antimony products.

The price of antimony started the year at about $2.66 per pound and generally rose during much of the year finishing August at $3.04 per pound.

During 2008, the world's leading antimony producer, China, continued experiencing sporadic production problems. Rivers in southern China have been dry because of droughts in late winter, impeding the transportation of antimony materials. Also, Government authorities implemented measures ahead of the Summer Olympic Games that affected antimony production; among the Government's initiatives has been a crackdown on pollution levels, which restricted production at some antimony plants.


Several new antimony mine projects were being developed in Australia, Canada, and Mexico.

World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base:

World Resources: U.S. resources of antimony are mainly in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Nevada. Principal identified world resources are in Bolivia, China, Mexico, Russia, and South Africa. Additional antimony resources may occur in Mississippi Valley-type lead deposits in the Eastern United States.

Substitutes: Compounds of chromium, tin, titanium, zinc, and zirconium substitute for antimony chemicals in paint, pigments, and enamels. Combinations of cadmium, calcium, copper, selenium, strontium, sulfur, and tin can be used as substitutes for hardening lead. Selected organic compounds and hydrated aluminum oxide are widely accepted substitutes as flame retardants.

(e) Estimated.
(NA) Not available.

U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2009