Are there still commercial quantities of sodium nitrates accessible to mining?

1 Answer
Nov 6, 2016

Not to my knowledge.

Explanation:

#NaNO_3# was extensively mined in South America, and wars were fought over the nitrate deposits. Most of today's supply comes from the Haber process, and its derivatives.

Nitrates are essential for both fertilizer, and for munitions. In aqueous solution, however, alkali nitrates are stable.