Unprocessed phosphate rock has a concentration of 1.7-8.7% phosphorus by mass (4-20% phosphorus pentoxide).
In 2021, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that economically extractable phosphate rock reserves worldwide are 71 billion tons, while world mining production in 2020 was 223 million tons.[5] Assuming zero growth, the reserves would thus last for 260 years.
So I think reserves are in phosphate rock, so you need to have production/consumption in terms of phosphate rock, not in terms of P2O5. That’s why it’s only 260 years. It would be very strange if the mining of something were five times as much as the consumption, especially over the longer term.
P2O5 is 44% phosphorus by mass. Wiki:
So I think reserves are in phosphate rock, so you need to have production/consumption in terms of phosphate rock, not in terms of P2O5. That’s why it’s only 260 years. It would be very strange if the mining of something were five times as much as the consumption, especially over the longer term.
ah good catch—i will make an alteration to the post