Strontium Minerals Come from Mexico

Strontium (Sr) occurs in nature as mineral deposits of celestine (celestite) (strontium sulfate) and strontianite (strontium carbonate). Citric acid and citrate also occur in nature. The chelate strontium citrate (as provided in supplemental form) is made synthetically from strontium minerals and citrate.

http://www.jarrow.com/eMarketing/StrontiumFAQ_Dec9.pdf

Celestite is the most commonly used strontium mineral. The strontium compounds in the government report referenced below are strontium oxide, sr. hydroxide, sr. peroxide, sr. nitrate, and sr. carbonate.  

Import Sources (2009–12): Strontium minerals: Mexico, 100%. Strontium compounds: Mexico, 80%; Germany, 12%; China, 7%; and other, 1%. Total imports: Mexico, 87%; Germany, 8%; China, 4%; and other, 1%.

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/strontium/mcs-2014-stron.pdf

One hundred percent (100 %) of the strontium minerals imported into the U.S. come from Mexico. None of the strontium minerals imported into the U.S. come from China.

Some time ago, I wrote to Doctor’s Best and asked if its Strontium Bone Maker, a product I take, comes from China. A representative from the company said, “No, our product is U.S.-made.”  Well, that answer was true to a point. Doctor’s Best probably buys strontium citrate from another company that imports celestite from Mexico to make strontium citrate in the U.S. I had to do a lot of sleuthing on the internet to find this information.

I keep hearing from people concerned that the strontium they take, or are considering taking, comes from China. I’ve also read posts on osteoporosis forums from so-called “experts” who keep repeating false information about strontium coming from China. For these reasons, I decided to post this information, citing a U.S. government publication for import sources.

It would be possible for a company to import strontium compounds (sr. carbonate, sr. nitrate) manufactured in China and then make sr. citrate from those, but it is unlikely when the mineral, celestite (strontium sulfate), is available from Mexico. A mine in China is believed to be the only developed strontianite deposit in the world per Hong, Wei, 1993, Celestite & strontianite—Review of ore processing and exploration: Industrial Minerals, no. 309, June, p. 55, as cited in “Strontium” by Joyce A. Ober.

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/strontium/850400.pdf

As already stated, the U.S. is not importing strontium minerals from China.

Other than the natural occurrence as mineral, strontium carbonate is prepared synthetically in one of two manners. First of which is from naturally occurring celestine also known as strontium sulfate (SrSO₄) or by using soluble strontium salts by the reaction in solution with a soluble carbonate salt (usually sodium or ammonium carbonates). For example if sodium carbonate was used in solution with strontium nitrate:

Sr(NO₃)_{2 (aq)} + Na₂CO_{3 (aq)} → SrCO_{3 (s)} + 2 NaNO_{3 (aq)}.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strontium_carbonate

 

Since 100% of the strontium minerals imported into the U.S. come from Mexico, and only 7% of the strontium compounds come from China, there is only a small chance the strontium in your strontium citrate supplement came from China.