Phosphates: A Case Study of a Valuable, Depleting Mineral in America

Phosphate is a primary plant nutrient which is absolutely vital to sustaining the Nation's agricultural output, and phosphate rock is the only practical source of phosphorous on a commercial scale. In order to assess the outlook for phosphate, GAO reviewed phosphate-mining techniques, the effects of environmental regulation on the industry, and methods being used to estimate the quantity of domestic phosphate reserves and resources.