# Strontium: Emissions

Why mined celestite carries almost no carbon

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/emissions/

What this tab covers The greenhouse-gas footprint of the commodity at a global level, split by lifecycle phase: extraction (or farming), refining and processing, movement, usage, and recycling or end of life. Intensities are per unit of product; the global total combines intensity with world output. Also covers other environmental impacts and the main levers to cut emissions. Emission intensity 0.00 t CO2e per t of celestite range 0.0013-0.0022 for celestite (mining and crushing only); strontium carbonate not published · cradle-to-gate for celestine mining and crushing in Spain, 1.29-2.18 kg CO2e per tonne. For carbonate made by the black-ash process, stoichiometry alone releases about 0.6 t CO2 per t SrCO3 (SrSO4 + 2C to SrS + 2CO2), of which about half can be reabsorbed if CO2 is used to precipitate the carbonate; kiln fuel comes on top (derived, indicative) Global emissions per year 0.00 Mt CO2e per year 2025 · celestite mining only: 1.7 kg CO2e/t x 450,000 t (derived); carbonate conversion, the larger source, is not published

Per t of celestite at mine gate; t of strontium carbonate for processing. Intensity: Palahalli Ramesh et al. 2026, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy Review 47(4); stoichiometry derived. Global total: Derived from Palahalli Ramesh et al. 2026 and USGS MCS 2026.

#### Footprint by lifecycle phase

| Phase | Intensity | Share | Main sources of emissions | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Extraction** | about 1.3-2.2 kg CO2e per t of celestite | – | diesel mobile crushers and loaders; ferrosilicon and diesel when tailings are enriched | Tailings enrichment raised revenue by at least 14% but raised emissions by 63% | Palahalli Ramesh et al. 2026 |
| **Refining / processing** | likely dominant for carbonate: about 0.3-0.6 t process CO2 per t SrCO3 plus kiln fuel (derived) | – | coal or coke reduction at about 1,100-1,300 C, leaching, carbonation, drying | Ground celestite for drilling mud skips this step entirely | Stoichiometry derived; Erdemoglu et al. 1998 (reduction temperature) |
| **Movement** | likely material for celestite relative to its tiny mining footprint | – | bulk shipping from Iran and Spain; trucking from Mexico to US drilling regions | Not quantified | Qualitative |
| **Usage** | no direct CO2; fireworks combustion releases particulates and metal salts | – | drilling mud, ferrite magnets, pyrotechnics, glass | Drilling mud use is tied to oil and gas output | USGS MCS 2026 |
| **Recycling / end of life** | none: EU end-of-life recycling input rate 0%; no US recycling | – | dispersed in magnets, mud and fireworks | Ferrite magnets are rarely recovered | EU CRM 2023; USGS MCS 2026 |

#### Other environmental impacts

The black-ash process releases hydrogen sulfide and leaves sulfide-bearing residues that need treatment. Fireworks add particulate and metal pollution during festivals.

#### Levers to cut emissions

- Capture kiln CO2 and use it to precipitate strontium carbonate, cutting net process CO2 by about half (derived)
- Direct conversion of celestite with soda ash at low temperature, avoiding the coal kiln
- Electrify mobile crushing at mines
- Recover H2S as sulfur to reduce local pollution

#### India

India mines no celestite and imports strontium carbonate and nitrate for ferrite magnets, glass and the Sivakasi fireworks cluster, so its footprint is embedded in Chinese, Mexican, German and Iranian carbonate plants; fireworks use also adds local air pollution.
 Emission figures are indicative global averages from the life-cycle studies named; actual footprints vary widely by site, energy mix and method.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/production/index.md)
- [Stocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/stocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/movement/index.md)
- [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/criticality/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/characteristics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/strontium/links/index.md)