There is an appreciable amount of carbonaceous sedimentary phosphate d
eposits in the northern Africa and the Middle East which are expected
to gain importance in the near future because of the depletion of the
deposits in Florida. In many of the regions where phosphate deposits a
re found there is a shortage of fresh water, and sea is not very far.
The use of sea water instead of fresh water in flotation of carbonaceo
us phosphate rock is successfully demonstrated. Thus an appreciable re
duction in the operating cost and an ample amount of saving in the fre
sh water resources of the region is expected.