SELENIUM (Data in metric tons of selenium content, unless noted) Domestic Production and Use: Primary selenium was recovered from anode slimes generated in the electrolytic refining of copper. Three copper refineries, one in Utah and two in Texas, accounted for domestic production of primary selenium. The value of production was $4 million. Anode slimes from other primary electrolytic refiners were exported for processing. The estimated consumption of selenium by end use was as follows: electronics, 35%; glass manufacturing, 30%; chemicals and pigments, 20%; and other, including agriculture and metallurgy, 15%. In electronics, high-purity selenium was used primarily as a photoreceptor on the drums of plain paper copiers. In glass manufacturing, selenium was used as a decolorant in container glass and other soda-lime silica glasses and to reduce solar heat transmission in architectural plate glass. Cadmium sulfoselenide red pigments, which have good heat stability, were used in ceramics and plastics. Chemical uses included rubber compounding chemicals, gun bluing, catalysts, human dietary supplements and antidandruff shampoos. Dietary supplements for livestock were the largest agricultural use. Selenium was added to copper, lead, and steel alloys to improve their machinability. Salient Statistics--United States: 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995e/ Production, refinery 260 243 283 360 360 Imports for consumption, metal and dioxide 344 371 382 411 410 Exports, metal, waste and scrap 210 175 261 246 250 Consumption, apparent1/ 510 490 460 530 540 Price, dealers, average, dollars per pound, 100-pound lots, refined, yearend 5.41 5.13 4.90 4.75 4.50 Stocks, producer, refined, yearend W W W W W Employment NA NA NA NA NA Net import reliance2/ as a percent of apparent consumption 50 48 39 31 33 Recycling: There was no domestic production of secondary selenium. Scrap xerographic materials were exported for recovery of the contained selenium. An estimated 100 tons of selenium metal recovered from scrap was imported in 1995. Import Sources (1991-94): Canada, 44%; Philippines, 18%; Japan, 13%; Belgium, 11%; and other, 14%. Tariff: Item Number Most favored nation (MFN) Non-MFN3/ 12/31/95 12/31/95 Selenium metal 2804.90.0000 Free Free. Selenium dioxide 2811.29.2000 Free Free. Depletion Allowance: 14% (Domestic), 14% (Foreign). Government Stockpile: None. Prepared by Robert D. Brown, Jr., (703) 648-4984. SELENIUM Events, Trends, and Issues: Domestic selenium demand did not change in 1995, but world demand increased, especially in China, Europe, and South America. World selenium production remained at about the 1994 level, so the oversupply situation was eased. The use of selenium in glass and as a micronutrient remained strong. Selenium remained a candidate as an additive to no-lead, free-machining brass for plumbing applications. Ordinary free-machining brass contains up to 7% lead. Industry consortia are testing several lead-free brasses that could be used as substitutes when more stringent regulations on lead in drinking water take effect. Bismuth is the main additive; however, its supply is limited and selenium reduces the quantity of bismuth needed. World Refinery Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base: Refinery production Reserves4/ Reserve base4/ 1994 1995e/ United States 360 360 10,000 19,000 Belgium 250 250 -- -- Canada 300 300 6,000 15,000 Chile 45 45 19,000 30,000 Finland 31 31 -- -- Germany 120 120 -- -- Japan 595 600 -- -- Peru 14 14 2,000 5,000 Philippines 40 40 2,000 3,000 Serbia and Montenegro 40 40 1,000 1,000 Sweden 50 50 -- -- Zambia 25 25 3,000 6,000 Other countries 15 15 27,000 55,000 World total (may be rounded) 5/ 1,880 5/ 1,890 70,000 130,000 World Resources: In addition to the reserve base of selenium, which is contained in identified economic copper deposits, 2.5 times this quantity of selenium was estimated to exist in copper or other metal deposits that were undeveloped, of uneconomic grade, or as yet undiscovered. Coal contains an average of 1.5 parts per million of selenium, which is about 80 times the average for copper deposits, but recovery of selenium from coal appears unlikely in the foreseeable future. Substitutes: High-purity silicon has replaced selenium in high-voltage rectifiers and is the major substitute for selenium in low-and medium-voltage rectifiers. Other inorganic semiconductor materials, such as silicon, cadmium, tellurium, gallium, and arsenic, as well as organic photoconductors, substitute for selenium in photoelectric applications. Other substitutes include cerium oxide in glass manufacturing; tellurium in pigment and rubber compounding; and bismuth, lead, and tellurium in free-machining alloys. e/Estimated. NA Not available. W Withheld to avoid disclosing company proprietary data. 1/Calculated using reported shipments, imports of selenium metal, and estimated exports of selenium metal, excluding scrap. 2/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock changes. 3/See Appendix B. 4/See Appendix C for definitions. 5/In addition to the countries listed, Australia, China, India, Kazakstan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe are known to produce refined selenium. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996