Mineral Commodity Profile

<p>Indium like gallium and thallium is a highly volatile chalcophile element in subgroup IIIA of the periodic table. It is a malleable silvery-white metal found primarily in ores in order of descending importance of zinc copper and tin. It has many uses but the principal one which accounts for about 65 percent of the indium consumed in industry is as thin films of indium-tin oxide (ITO) for liquid crystal displays. Indium is also used in semiconductors in the form of indium phosphide (InP).<br> <br>The value of commercial grade indium consumed in the United States in 2001 is estimated to have been greater than $8.5 million based on domestic consumption of 58 metric tons (t).<br> <br>Indium is principally a byproduct of the electrolytic refining of zinc although a small share is a byproduct of tin refining. Primary refined indium is produced in several countries which include in descending order of quantity produced China France Japan Canada Belgium Russia and Peru (Brown 2002a). The United States produces only secondary material and the quantity which is the proprietary data of the only two producers is not published. The world reserve base for indium is estimated to be about 5700 t which is far in excess of probable consumption over the next several decades; the United States has about 11 percent of this base. The sustainable production and consumption of indium appears to be no impediment in future years.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>