1296
Strontium Minerals as Critical Raw Materials—
Market Dynamics, Processing Techniques, and Future Challenges
Diego Mesa, Pablo R. Brito-Parada
Advanced Mineral Processing Research Group, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London,
London, United Kingdom
Varun Gowda, Kanishk Bhadani, Gauti Asbjörnsson
Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Francisco Ortega-García, Noemi Ariza-Rodríguez
Canteras Industriales SL, Granada, Spain
Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
ABSTRACT: In 2020, the European Union officially designated strontium as a critical raw material (CRM)
due to its diverse applications and limited global producers, with Spain as one of the primary producers and
the only one in the EU. This comprehensive review discusses strontium’s market dynamics, global reserves, and
the technological advancements in mineral processing techniques for extracting and concentrating its principal
bearing minerals, celestine (SrSO₄) and strontianite (SrCO₃). The review highlights the shift in strontium
demand, led until the mid-2000s by applications in cathode ray tube (CRT) glass, to current uses focused on
pyrotechnics, ceramic magnets, and drilling fluids.
The study evaluates the progression of beneficiation methods, from manual sorting to advanced techniques
such as size separation, gravity separation, flotation, and dense media separation, with recent innovations dem-
onstrating enhanced recovery and purity of celestine concentrates. Industrial case studies from various regions,
including Spain and China, illustrate significant advancements and regional variations in celestine processing
while emphasising the need for further research and transparency in reporting beneficiation methodologies.
Additionally, the review addresses the environmental implications of strontium production and underscores
the importance of improving circularity through recycling, particularly in light of the negligible End-of-Life
Recycling Input Rate (EOLRIR) for strontium in the EU. Emerging applications in magnet technology, medi-
cine, and smart materials present new opportunities, potentially reducing reliance on rare-earth elements and
fostering innovation.
The paper also explores the anticipated effects of strontium’s CRM status on future demand, highlighting the
need for continued research and technological advancements in strontium beneficiation to ensure a stable sup-
ply chain. The sustained study and optimisation of extraction and processing methodologies are crucial in meet-
ing the demand from evolving industrial applications and addressing the current and future challenges in the
supply of this critical raw material.
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1296
Strontium Minerals as Critical Raw Materials—
Market Dynamics, Processing Techniques, and Future Challenges
Diego Mesa, Pablo R. Brito-Parada
Advanced Mineral Processing Research Group, Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London,
London, United Kingdom
Varun Gowda, Kanishk Bhadani, Gauti Asbjörnsson
Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Francisco Ortega-García, Noemi Ariza-Rodríguez
Canteras Industriales SL, Granada, Spain
Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
ABSTRACT: In 2020, the European Union officially designated strontium as a critical raw material (CRM)
due to its diverse applications and limited global producers, with Spain as one of the primary producers and
the only one in the EU. This comprehensive review discusses strontium’s market dynamics, global reserves, and
the technological advancements in mineral processing techniques for extracting and concentrating its principal
bearing minerals, celestine (SrSO₄) and strontianite (SrCO₃). The review highlights the shift in strontium
demand, led until the mid-2000s by applications in cathode ray tube (CRT) glass, to current uses focused on
pyrotechnics, ceramic magnets, and drilling fluids.
The study evaluates the progression of beneficiation methods, from manual sorting to advanced techniques
such as size separation, gravity separation, flotation, and dense media separation, with recent innovations dem-
onstrating enhanced recovery and purity of celestine concentrates. Industrial case studies from various regions,
including Spain and China, illustrate significant advancements and regional variations in celestine processing
while emphasising the need for further research and transparency in reporting beneficiation methodologies.
Additionally, the review addresses the environmental implications of strontium production and underscores
the importance of improving circularity through recycling, particularly in light of the negligible End-of-Life
Recycling Input Rate (EOLRIR) for strontium in the EU. Emerging applications in magnet technology, medi-
cine, and smart materials present new opportunities, potentially reducing reliance on rare-earth elements and
fostering innovation.
The paper also explores the anticipated effects of strontium’s CRM status on future demand, highlighting the
need for continued research and technological advancements in strontium beneficiation to ensure a stable sup-
ply chain. The sustained study and optimisation of extraction and processing methodologies are crucial in meet-
ing the demand from evolving industrial applications and addressing the current and future challenges in the
supply of this critical raw material.

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