galliumNot sure if anyone has posted this before... I found it as part of a summary on an old past producing primary gallium mine, the Apex, in Utah:
Gallium
Gallium is a scarce element currently produced predominantly as a
byproduct of aluminum and zinc recovery. Its production is controlled by a
small number of companies worldwide. Gallium is probably best know for its
use in gallium arsenide and related semiconductors, as well as for medical
purposes. At present, new gallium supply (as opposed to recycled gallium) is
obtained predominately from the processing of bauxite to recover aluminum,
with a small amount coming from the processing of zinc ores. The supply of
gallium in the U.S. and Europe (and probably Japan) is currently dominated by
the French chemical company, Rhone-Poulenc, which probably controls well over
half of the supply in these areas. There has not been any domestic gallium
production in many years. However, two U.S. companies, Recapture Metals, Inc.
of Blanding, Utah, and Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc. of Quapaw, Oklahoma,
recover and process gallium from scrap or other sources.
About 95% of gallium n the U.S. is used in gallium arsenide and related
materials. In 1995, about 65% of gallium went into optoelectronic devices,
such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes, photdetectors, and solar
cells. Integrated circuits used about 33%, with the remainder going into
research, alloys, pharmaceuticals, and other uses.
The published prices for gallium have risen sharply since 1995 due
primarily to increased demand of gallium in integrated circuits and LEDs, the
disrupted supply from the former Soviet Union, as well as the concentrated
control of the supply.