 Occurrence
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| Chromium is mined as chromite (FeCr2O4) ore. About two-fifths of the chromite ores and concentrates in the world are produced in South Africa. Kazakhstan, India, Russia and Turkey are also substantial producers. Untapped chromite deposits are plentiful, but geographically concentrated in Kazakhstan and southern Africa.
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| Approximately 15 million tons of marketable chromite ore were produced in 2000, and converted into approximately 4 million
tons of ferro-chrome with an approximate market value of 2.5 billion United States dollars.
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| Though native chromium deposits are rare, some native chromium metal has been discovered. The Udachnaya Mine in Russia produces samples of the native metal. This mine is a kimberlite pipe rich in diamonds, and the reducing environment so provided
helped produce both elemental chromium and diamond.
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