MICA (NATURAL), SCRAP AND FLAKE1/ (Data in thousand metric tons, unless noted) Domestic Production and Use: Scrap and flake mica production, excluding low-quality sericite, decreased about 5% in 1995. North Carolina accounted for about 65% of U.S. production. The remaining output came from Georgia, New Mexico, South Carolina, and South Dakota. Scrap mica was recovered principally from mica and sericite schist and from feldspar, kaolin, and lithium beneficiation. The bulk of domestic production was processed into small particle-size mica by wet and dry grinding. Primary uses were joint compound, paint, roofing, oil well drilling additives, and rubber products. The value of 1995 scrap mica production was estimated at $7.5 million. Ground mica sales were valued at $29 million. There were 10 domestic producers of scrap and flake mica. Salient Statistics--United States: 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995e/ Production:2/ 3/ Mine 103 85 88 109 104 Ground 75 84 92 95 91 Imports, mica powder and mica waste 11 12 14 18 16 Exports, mica powder and mica waste 4 4 5 6 7 Consumption, apparent4/ 84 95 105 97 100 Price, average, dollars per ton, reported: Scrap and flake 54 51 51 66 65 Ground: Wet 640 745 838 1,007 1,000 Dry 150 168 152 151 150 Stocks, producer, yearende/ 7 7 7 14 13 Employment, minee/ 5/ 80 80 80 364 360 Net import reliance6/ as a percent of apparent consumption 11 12 12 1 10 Recycling: None. Import Sources (1991-94): Canada, 90%; India, 6%; and other, 4%. Tariff: Item Number Most favored nation (MFN) Non-MFN7/ 12/31/95 12/31/95 Mica powder 2525.20.0000 1.9% ad val. 20% ad val. Mica waste 2525.30.0000 Free 8.8›/ kg. Depletion Allowance: 22% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign). Government Stockpile: None. Prepared by James B. Hedrick, (703) 648-7725. MICA (NATURAL), SCRAP AND FLAKE Events, Trends, and Issues: Production of ground mica in the United States increased for the fourth consecutive year after 4 years of decline. The increase is a reflection of a continued improvement in construction activity. The United States remained the major producer of scrap and flake mica in 1995. Imported mica is used primarily for making mica paper and as a filler and reinforcer in plastics. The principal environmental impact of mica mining was the land disturbance commonly associated with surface mining. World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base: Mine production Reserves8/ Reserve base8/ 1994 1995e/ United States2/ 109 104 Large Large Canada 18 18 Large Large India 2 2 Large Large Korea, South 8 8 Large Large Russia 25 25 Large Large Other countries 52 52 Large Large World total 214 209 Large Large World Resources: Resources of scrap and flake mica are available in granite, pegmatite, schist, and clay deposits and are considered more than adequate to meet anticipated world demand in the foreseeable future. Substitutes: Some of the lightweight aggregates such as diatomite, vermiculite, and perlite may be substituted for ground mica when used as a filler. Ground synthetic fluorophlogopite, a fluorine-rich mica, may replace natural ground mica for uses that require the thermal and electrical properties of mica. e/Estimated. 1/See also Mica (Natural), Sheet. 2/Sold or used by producing companies. 3/Excludes low-quality sericite used primarily for brick manufacturing. 4/Based on ground mica. 5/Total employment at mines and mills where mica was produced and processed, including byproduct production. Employees were not assigned to specific commodities in calculating employment. 6/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 7/See Appendix B. 8/See Appendix C for definitions. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996