Nonmetallic minerals of Russia in metallurgical production: status of mineral raw materials base and perspectives of its reclamation and development

Status, utilization and perspectives of development of Russian mineral raw materials base of flux minerals (fluorite and flux limestone) considered, as well as refractory materials (bauxite, dolomite, magnesite, brucite, bischofite and zirconium) and moulding sands. An estimation of the level of provision with nonmetallic raw materials of Russian steel industry done. It was shown, that bowels of Russia have practically all kinds of nonmetallic minerals, used in the metallurgy of hot metal, steel and alloys. High alumina minerals are not used in metallurgy, despite discovered resources of them are big enough to meet demands of metallurgical plants of the country. There is some deficit of fluorite and zirconium, with no objective reasons for that. State of the markets of minerals considered briefly described.