The Florida Institute of Phosphate Research has developed these tours to provide an inside view of how Florida Phosphate is mined and processed into fertilizer.  The Mining and Beneficiation Tour shows the phosphate mine, where the matrix (containing phosphate, sand and clay) is mined.  It also shows the beneficiation plant where phosphate is separated from the sand and clay.  The Chemical Processing Tour shows how the phosphate rock is converted into a soluble form (phosphoric acid) and used to make fertilizer.