Antimony:
Pakistan reportedly discovered a massive cache of antimony in the conflict-torn region of Balochistan.
- Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb and atomic number 51.
- Classified as a metalloid, antimony is a solid at room temperature.
- It exhibits poor electrical and heat conductivity
- Commercial forms of antimony are generally ingots, broken pieces, granular, or cast cake.
- Antimony ores occur both in deposits associated with volcanic rocks and also in more deep-seated veins formed under moderate to high temperatures and pressure.
- The chief ore of antimony is stibnite. It is more commonly obtained as a byproduct in lead-zinc-silver mines.
- Producers:
- China produces 88% of the world’s antimony.
- Other producers are Bolivia, Russia, and Tajikistan.
- Antimony is used in the electronics industry to make some semiconductor devices, such as infrared detectors and diodes.
- It is alloyed with lead or other metals to improve their hardness and strength.
- A lead-antimony alloy is used in batteries.
- Other uses of antimony alloys include type metal (in printing presses), bullets, and cable sheathing.
- Antimony compounds are used to make flame-retardant materials, paints, enamels, glass, and pottery.
