Phosphate mineral ores: reserves, production and mining projects

A.A. Gilyarova
Mining Institute Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russian Federationnstitute of Mining Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation
Russian Mining Industry №5 / 2023 р. 72-77

Abstract: The paper presents the results of analyzing the reserves of phosphate mineral raw materials, their involvement in mining and processing activities both globally and in the Russian Federation. It is demonstrated that the reserves available for high-margin development have currently declined, the volumes of mining and processing of phosphate minerals have decreased, and the mining conditions have become more complicated with a corresponding deterioration in extracted ore grades. The issues with fertilizer production predefined the transformation of geopolitical conditions and manifestations of the pre-crisis food situation in the world. We have made forecast calculations of the countries' supply of phosphate mineral reserves based on the current mining and processing volumes. We reviewed the global experience of implementing large-scale mining projects to draw new phosphate mineral deposits into economic activities. It is already required to identify potentially investment-attractive phosphate deposits using various methods of their investment assessment in order to meet the needs of rural households both in the world and in the Russian Federation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop methodological approaches to investment analysis of prospective phosphate mineral reserves in the Russian Federation based on the identified specific features of phosphate mining and production in the context of pre-crisis global food situation. A methodological approach to expert scoring of phosphate mineral deposits is proposed. An investment analysis of the prospective apatite ore deposits has been made, the results of which were used as the basis for selecting the most investment-attractive ones.

Keywords: phosphate mineral ores, reserves, mining projects, expert assessment, investment-attractive deposits

Acknowledgments: The study was carried out within the framework of the state task of research No.0186_2022-0005.

For citation: Gilyarova A.A. Phosphate mineral ores: reserves, production and mining projects. Russian Mining Industry. 2023;(5):72–77. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30686/1609-9192-2023-5-72-77

Article info

Received: 09.08.2023

Revised: 23.08.2023

Accepted: 26.08.2023

Information about the author

Asya A. Gilyarova – Cand. Sci. (Econ.), Researcher, Mining Institute Kola Science Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Apatity, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9655-5486; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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