Phosphate-rock extraction rate for the world and a Verhulst function fit to the data.
The red curve is the best fit to the data; it has an eventual extraction amount of 14.23x109 tonnes.
L. David Roper
http://arts.bev.net/RoperLDavid/
14 December 2007
Phosphate rock is indispensible in creating fertilizer for modern farming. It is also used in modern batteries. The graph below shows the phosphate-rock extraction data for the world and a Verhulst function fit to the data in order to extrapolate into the future.
Phosphate-rock extraction rate for the world and a Verhulst function fit to the data.
The red curve is the best fit to the data; it has an eventual extraction amount of 14.23x109 tonnes.
In the following graph the blue curve is for an eventual extraction amount of 50x109 tonnes, which is at the high end of the estimated resources.
For more information about phosphate rock: