Strontium mineral sources

The two mineral sources for strontium are the sulfate (celes-tite) and carbonate (strontianite). In 2001, 75% of strontium used in the US went into the manufacture of faceplate glass in colour television cathode-ray tubes in order to stop X-ray... 

The two mineral sources for strontium are the sulfate (celes-tite) and carbonate (strontianite). The main use of strontium is as a component in colour television faceplate glass ( 8% SrO is incorporated into the glass) where its function is to stop X-ray emissions from the cathode ray tube (CRT). However, the increasing market for CRT-free flat-screen televisions is having a dramatic effect on the demand for strontium. Other uses of strontium include ferrite ceramic magnets and pyrotechnics (see Flame tests in Section 12.3). 

To begin the discussion, we will present briefly a view of the modern carbon cycle, with emphasis on processes, fluxes, reservoirs, and the "CO2 problem". In Chapter 4 we introduced this "problem" here it is developed further. We will then investigate the rock cycle and the sedimentary cycles of those elements most intimately involved with carbon. Weathering processes and source minerals, basalt-seawater reactions, and present-day sinks and oceanic balances of Ca, Mg, and C will be emphasized. The modern cycles of organic carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfur, and strontium are presented, and in Chapter 10 linked to those of Ca, Mg, and inorganic C. In conclusion in Chapter 10, aspects of the historical geochemistry of the carbon cycle are discussed, and tied to the evolution of Earth s surface environment. 

One of the most important sources of strontium is the mineral celestite, SrS04. By reduction with charcoal this can be converted into strontium sulphide,... 

A more direct approach to study EM weathering is the use of tracer elements as used by Blum et al. (2002). They examined calcium uptake by different tree species in the Hubbert Brook Experimental Forest in northeastern USA. They used the fact that the different calcium sources (atmospheric deposition, calcium silicate weathering and apatite weathering) have different Ca/Sr ratios. In the ecosystem, strontium is believed to behave in a similar fashion as calcium (Aberg et al., 1990). Atmospheric deposition, calcium silicate minerals and soil water have similar Ca/Sr ratios (120-300), but apatite has a much higher Ca/Sr ratio (2200-2920). 

In the dissolved load, the preferential dissolution of the different types of lithology or mineral can cause large variations in trace-element abundances in rivers. A classical tracer of rock dissolution is strontium. The isotopic ratio of strontium in river waters is, to a first approximation, explained by mixing between different sources. Rain, evaporite dissolution, and carbonate and silicate weathering are the predominant sources of strontium in rivers (see Chapter 5.12). Examples of the use of Ca/Sr, Na/Sr, and Sr isotopic ratios to quantify the proportion of strontium derived from carbonate weathering in large basins can be found in Negrel et al. (1993)... 

Clauer N. (1979) Relationship between the isotopic composition of strontium in newly formed continental clay minerals and their source material. Chem. Geol. 31, 325-334. 

Clow D. W., Mast M. A., Bullen T. D., and Turk J. T. (1997) Strontium 87/strontium 86 as a tracer of mineral weathering reactions and calcium sources in an alpine/subalpine watershed. Loch Vale, Colorado. Water Resour. Res. 33, 1335-1351. 

The sources of the saline fluids are argued by some to be water-rock interaction based on the presence of abundant chloride in mineral phases, fluid inclusions, and the incorporation of water into minerals as ways to increase sahnity. The strong similarity of fluids and mineral chemistry, especially for parameters such as strontium isotopes, is cited as evidence for the water-rock model of origin. 

The most common minerals containing strontium are celestine and strontianite. Celestine contains primarily strontium sulfate (SrS04), while strontianite contains mostly strontium carbonate (SrC03). Important world sources of strontium are Spain, China, Mexico, T urkey, and Argentina. No strontium has been mined in the United States since 1959. 

Strontium is a silvery and soft metal that is very reactive. When it is finely divided into a powder, it burns spontaneously in air. Its primary sources are two minerals, celestite and strontianite. In 1789, the Irish scientist Adair Crawford (1748-1795) first identified the element (along with the mineral strontianite) and named the element for Strontian, the village in Scotland where he made the discovery. (Crawford was actually studying the chemical reaction between a mineral called witherite (BaC03) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) at the time, but was frustrated when he failed to get the... 

Strontium, element number 38, has a density of 2.63 g/cm3 and is the 16th most abundant element on Earth. Barium, element number 56, has a density of 3.51 g/cm3 and ranks 14th in abundance. Both elements are silvery-colored metals. Because alkaline earths react so readily with any water in the environment to form ions and compounds, neither element would ever be found as the native metal. In all of their ores, they occur as +2 ions. The principal sources of the two elements are the minerals celestite (SrS04), strontianite (SrC03), and barite (BaS04). 

The formula for calcium oxide is CaO. What are the formulas for magnesium oxide and strontium oxide A common mineral of barium is barytes, or barium sulfate (BaS04). Because elements in the same periodic group have similar chemical properties, we might expect to find some radium sulfate (RaS04) mixed with barytes since radium is the last member of Group 2A. Flowever, the only source of radium compounds in nature is in uranium minerals. Why ... 

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