Apatite is a group of phosphate minerals, usually referring to hydroxylapatite, fluorapatite and chlorapatite, named for high concentrations of OH−, F− and Cl− ions, respectively, in the crystal. A very rare strontium-rich member Apatite-(SrOH) also exists, with the Calcium partially replaced by Strontium. There is also a rare member of Apatite which has the phosphate radical (PO4) partially replaced by a carbonate radical (CO3). It is known as Carbonate-Apatite. Sedimentary deposits have provided about 80- 90 percent of world production in the last ten years. Igneous deposits and metamorphic rock phosphates are also available. China, The USA, Morocco and Western Sahara produce rock phosphates from sedimentary origins while Russia, South Africa, Brazil produce igneous originated rock phosphates. Sri Lanka has an igneous rock phosphate mine located in Eppawala, In the Anuradhapura district of north central province of the country. The Rock Phosphate Deposit covers an area of approximately 324 ha of land and Nearly 60 million Metric Tons of phosphates have been determined to exist. Lanka Phosphates Limited has the sole authority to mine phosphates in Eppawala. Rocks are covered in red-brown earth and occasional vegetation is mined by open cast mining processes and the extracted rocks are crushed. In this stage rocks and crystals are separated. Crushed crystals produce High Graded Eppawala Rock Phosphates (HERP) and Eppawala Rock Phosphate (ERP) is produced by crushed rocks. The solubility of Eppawala rock phosphate is low. Ground Eppawala rock phosphate is used only for perennials such as Tea, Coconut and Rubber and spice crops. It is not recommended to short term crops due to the low solubility. The requirement of soluble phosphates at the initial stages of plant growth is high. Therefore more effective phosphate fertilizers (Triple Super Phosphate [TSP] and Single Super Phosphate [SSP]) are imported to Sri Lanka in order to fulfill the requirements. Around US$ 20 million worth foreign exchange is used for the imports. Phosphate fertilizer application for agriculture in Sri Lanka is one of the lowest in Asia. Therefore Value addition to Eppawala rock phosphate will save foreign exchange. When consider about the potential industries based on Eppawala rock phosphate manufacturing of SSP and Pharmaceuticals, Biomaterials (Artificial limbs, teeth) Analytical reagents, Animal feeds, Phosphoric Acid, Detergents, Emulsifiers can be indicated. Exploitation of rock phosphate causes severe impacts on the environment and sustainable management of rock phosphate can be recommended.

1. Apatite as a natural resource of
Sri Lanka
PABASARA GUNAWARDANE

2. OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Uses of apatite
• World state of apatite
• Apatite rock at Eppawala
• Extraction process
• Value addition
• Alternative industries
• Environmental threats
• Conclusion

3. Apatite
 Group of phosphate minerals
 Includes,
Fluoroapatite - Ca5(PO4)3F
Chloroapatite - Ca5(PO4)3 Cl
Hydroxylapatite – Ca5(PO4)3 OH
Rarely Sr-apatite and CO3- apatite

4. Origin ; Apatite
 Mainly igneous origin
 Can found in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks too
 Cannot call strictly call as a mineral
 Secondary deposit formed due to organic remains
accumulation

5. Uses ; Apatite
 Manufacture of phosphate fertilizer
 Two main types of rock phosphates
 Sedimentary deposits
 Igneous deposits
 More than 80% of world phosphate is from
Sedimentary rocks (China, USA, Morocco and
Western Sahara)
 Russia, South Africa, Brazil – Igneous rock
phosphates

6. Rock Phosphate deposits of the world

8. Source: 2011 Production estimates, US Geological Survey, 2012

10. Eppawala
 Located in Anuradhapura District, North central
province of Sri Lanka
 Within a region of high-grade igneous rock
phosphate deposit
 The Rock Phosphate Deposit covers an area of
approximately 324 ha of land
 Nearly 60 million MT of phosphates have been
determined to exist
 Responsibility is under Lanka Phosphate Ltd.

11. Eppawala apatite
 Pale blue mineral
 Contains phosphate crystals and rocks
 Rocks are covered in red-brown earth and
occasional vegetation

12. Apatite extraction ; Process
 Mining
 Open cast mining is done
 Heavy machinery are used
 Small amount of man power is required
 Crushing
 Separates crystals from rocks
 Crystals- High grade rock phosphate ( 38% P2O5)
 Rocks- Rock phosphate (28% P2O5 )

13. Crushers

14. Apatite extraction ; Process
 Grinding
 Separated rocks and crystals are transported to the factory
 Three roller mills are available for the grinding (3 RM, 5RM, 6 RM)
 Once loaded the mills start grinding rocks and crystals separately
 Crystals- Fine ivory powder (HERP)
 Rocks- Fine golden brown powder (ERP)
Packaging
 The outcome of the grinders are directly packed and sold

15. Grinders

16. Quality of Eppawala apatite
 Solubility is very low
 Water solubility – 0.5%
 Solubility in 2% Citric acid – 5% ( Agronomic availability of
P)
 Eppawala apatite has more Chlorine than Fluorine
 Ground Eppawala rock phosphate is used only for
perennials such as Tea, Coconut, Rubber and spice crops
such as pepper and coffee
 Not recommended to short term crops due to the low
solubility

17.  The requirement of soluble PO4
3- at the initial stages of
plant growth is high
 Therefore more effective phosphate fertilizers (Triple
Super Phosphate[TSP] and Single Super Phosphate[SSP])
are imported
 Around US$ 20 million worth foreign exchange is used for
the imports
 Phosphate fertilizer application for agriculture in Sri Lanka
is one of the lowest in Asia
 Value addition to Eppawala rock phosphate will save
foreign exchange

18. Apatite ; Value addition
 Two processes are in practice to convert rock phosphate
into more effective forms
 Wet process
 Thermal process
 Wet process is quite simple
 Single Super Phosphates
Ca3(PO4)2 + 2H2SO4 Ca(H2PO4)2 + 2CaSO4

19.  Triple superphosphate
 First step:
Ca3(PO4)2 + 3H2SO4 2H3PO4 + 3CaSO4
 Second step:
Ca3(PO4)2 + 4H3PO4 3Ca(H2PO4)2
 TSP contains 3* phosphorous than SSP
 SSP is effective as same as TSP

20. Apatite ; Potential Industries
 Pharmaceuticals
 Biomaterials (Artificial limbs, teeth)
 Analytical reagents
 Animal feeds
 Phosphoric Acid
 Detergents
 Emulsifiers

21. Issues and impacts of mining
 Removal of surface soil
 Surface and underground water flows, topography are changed
 May releases some radioactive materials
 Air pollution with particulate matter
 The unbearable noise from machineries
 Over exploitation

22. Conclusion
 Apatite deposit is a non-renewable natural resource
situated in a traditional village environment
 Environmental aspects as well as social issues at
Eppawala village should be given utmost consideration
 Alternative industries suggested above may reduce
possible environment hazards and minimize social
problems
 Rate of exploitation of this deposit should be carefully
controlled
 World-wide tenders can be called and the contract
awarded to the lowest bidder with full transparency to
initiate a fertilizer industry

23.  Producing locally made phosphate fertilizers will have a
direct benefit to the agriculture sector
 Increased phosphate will result in increased yields to the
farmer and far reaching economic benefits not only to
the farmer but also for the whole country.
 production of biomaterials and other important industrial
products with much higher value addition also should be
given serious consideration.
 Educate the people in the area about the true impacts
of the industry

24. References
 Prof. Ileperuma, Oliver A.(2011), Importance of Eppawela for
fertiliser
 Prof. Gunawardane, R. P (2003), Industries from Eppawala
phosphate deposit
 Canagaratna, Premila (2000), The Eppawela Phosphate Project -
A Revealing Financial Analysis
 Van Kauwenbergh, S. (2010),World Phosphate Rock Reserves
and Resources
 Roy, R.N. (2004),Use of Phosphate Rocks for Sustainable
Agriculture on
http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5053e/y5053e00.htm as at
17.35 26.05.2014
 http://www.minerals.net/mineral/apatite.aspx as at 17.35
26.05.2014

25. References
 Apatite Mineral Properties and Uses , on
www.geology.com/mineral/apatite.htm as at 17.35 hr 26.05.2014
 China, india eying on Eppawala, on www.lbo.lk/news/eppawala008.asr
as at 17.35 hr 26.05.2014
 http://www.scribd.com/doc/136297801/Economic-Social-Statistics-of-Sri-
Lanka-2012 as at 17.35 hr 26.05.2014
 http://exploresrilanka.lk/2012/10/crush-n-grind,htm as at 17.35 hr
26.05.2014

26. Thank You!!!!!