OverviewProduction and useClassification of phosphatic sedimentary rocksPhosphorus cycle, formation and accumulationDepositional environmentsSee alsoExternal linksDeposits which contain phosphate in quantity and concentration which are economic to mine as ore for their phosphate content are not particularly common. The two main sources for phosphate are guano, formed from bird or bat droppings, and rocks containing concentrations of the calcium phosphate mineral, apatite. As of 2006, the US is the world''s leading producer and exporter of phosphate fertilizers, accou