Fact Sheet: 40 Common Minerals and Their Uses
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40 Common Minerals and Their Uses Aluminum Beryllium The most abundant metal element in Earth’s Used in the nuclear industry and to make light, crust. Aluminum originates as an oxide called but strong alloys used by the aircraft industry. alumina. Bauxite ore is the main source of Beryllium salts are used in fluorescent lamps, aluminum and is imported from Jamaica, Brazil, X-ray tubes and as a deoxidizer in bronze metal- Guinea, Guyana, etc. It’s used in transportation lurgy. It is used in computers, telecommunication (automobiles), packaging, building/construction, and electronics products, aerospace and de- electrical, machinery and other applications. The fense applications, appliances, automotive and U.S. was 49 percent import reliant for aluminum consumer electronics, and medical applications. in 2020. The U.S. was 17 percent import reliant. Antimony Chromite A native element, antimony metal is extracted The U.S. consumes about 5 percent of world from stibnite ore and other minerals. It is used chromite ore production in various forms of im- as a hardening alloy for lead, especially storage ported materials, such as chromite ore, chromite batteries and cable sheaths. It’s also used in chemicals, chromium ferroalloys, chromium bearing metal, type metal, solder, collapsible metal and stainless steel. It’s used as an alloy in tubes and foil, sheet and pipes and semiconduc- stainless and heat resisting steel products. It’s tor technology. Antimony is used as a flame re- also used in chemical and metallurgical indus- tardant, in fireworks and in antimony salts, which tries (chrome fixtures, etc.). Superalloys require are used in the rubber, chemical and textile chromium. It is produced in South Africa, Ka- industries, as well as medicine and glassmaking. zakhstan and Russia. The U.S. was 75 percent The U.S. was 81 percent import reliant in 2020. import reliant for chromium in 2020. Barium Clays A heavy metal contained in barite. It’s used as It’s used in floor and wall tile as an absorbent, in a heavy additive in oil well drilling; in the paper sanitation, mud drilling, foundry sand bonding, and rubber industries; as a filler or extender in in iron pelletizing, brick, light weight aggregate cloth, ink and plastics products; in radiography and cement. Ball clay is used in floor and wall (“barium milkshake”); as a deoxidizer for copper; tile. Bentonite is used for drilling mud, pet waste a sparkplug in alloys; and in making expensive absorbent, iron ore pelletizing and foundry sand white pigments. bond. Kaolin is used for paper coating and filling, refractory products, fiberglass, paint, rubber and Bauxite catalyst manufacture. Common clay is used in Rock composed of hydrated aluminum oxides. brick, light aggregate and cement. The U.S. was In the U.S., it is primarily converted to alumina. not import reliant in 2020. See “aluminum.” The U.S. was more than 75 percent import reliant on bauxite in 2020. 101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org Cobalt Fluorite (fluorspar) It’s used primarily in superalloys for aircraft gas It’s used in production of hydrofluoric acid, which turbine engines, cemented carbides for cutting is used in the pottery, ceramics, optical, electro- tools and wear-resistant applications, chemi- plating and plastics industries; in the metallurgi- cals (paint dryers, catalysts, magnetic coatings) cal treatment of bauxite; as a flux in open hearth and permanent magnets. The U.S. has cobalt steel furnaces and in metal smelting; in carbon resources in Minnesota, Alaska, California, electrodes; emery wheels; electric arc welders; Idaho, Missouri, Montana and Oregon. Cobalt toothpaste; and paint pigment. It is a key ingredi- production comes principally from Congo, China, ent in the processing of aluminum and uranium. Canada, Russia, Australia and the Philippines. The U.S. was 100 percent import reliant in 2020. The U.S. was 76 percent import reliant in 2020. Gallium Copper Gallium is used in integrated circuits, light-emit- It’s used in building construction; electric and ting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors and solar electronic products (cables and wires, switches, cells. It has a new use in chemotherapy for plumbing, heating); transportation equipment; some types of cancer. Integrated circuits are roofing; chemical and pharmaceutical machin- used in defense applications, high performance ery; and alloys (brass, bronze and beryllium computers and telecommunications. Optoelec- alloyed with copper are particularly vibration tronic devices were used in areas such as aero- resistant); alloy castings; electroplated protective space, consumer goods, industrial equipment, coatings; and undercoats for nickel, chromium, medical equipment and telecommunications. zinc, etc. More recently, copper is being used Leading sources are China, Russia, Japan and in medical equipment due to its anti-microbial Korea. The U.S. was 100 percent import reliant properties. The United States has copper mines in 2020. in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana and Michigan. Leading producers are Chile, Gold Peru, China, U.S., Congo and Australia. The Gold is used in jewelry and arts; dentistry and U.S. was 37 percent import reliant in 2020. medicine; medallions and coins; ingots as a store of value; scientific and electronic instru- Feldspar ments; and as an electrolyte in the electroplat- A rock-forming mineral, it’s industrially import- ing industry. It is mined in Alaska and several ant in glass and ceramic industries; patter and western states. Leading producers are China, enamelware; soaps; bond for abrasive wheels; Russia, Australia, U.S. and Canada. The U.S. cements; insulating compositions; fertilizer; was 52 percent import reliant in 2020. tarred roofing materials; and as a sizing, or filler, in textiles and paper. In pottery and glass, feld- Gypsum spar functions as a flux. End uses for feldspar in Processed and used as prefabricated wallboard the U.S. include glass (60 percent) and pottery or an industrial or building plaster; used in ce- and other uses (40 percent). The U.S. was 13 ment manufacturing; agriculture and other uses. percent import reliant in 2020. The U.S. was 14 percent import reliant in 2020. 101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org Halite (sodium chloride salt) and electronic applications (TV tubes and glass); It’s used in human and animal diet, both a sea- construction, communications and protective soning and a preservative. It’s also used to pre- coatings; ballast or weights; ceramics or crystal pare sodium hydroxide, soda ash, caustic soda, glass; X-ray and gamma radiation shielding; hydrochloric acid, chlorine, metallic sodium, soundproofing material and ammunition. Indus- ceramic glazes, metallurgy, curing of hides, min- trial type batteries are used as a source of un- eral waters, soap manufacturing, home water interuptible power equipment for computer and softeners, highway de-icing, photography and telecommunications networks and mobile power. in scientific equipment for optical parts. Single Lead is mined mainly in Missouri, but also in crystals used for spectroscopy, ultraviolet and Alaska and Idaho. The U.S. was 24 percent infrared transmission. The U.S. was 27 percent import reliant in 2020. import reliant for salt in 2020. Lithium Indium Lithium and lithium compounds are used in bat- Indium tin oxide is used for electrical conductivi- teries; ceramics and glass; lubricating greases; ty purposes in flat panel devices most commonly air treatment and medicine. Lithium consumption in liquid crystal displays (LCDs). It is also used for batteries has increased significantly in recent in solders, alloys, compounds, electrical compo- years due to more extensive use of lithium nents, semiconductors and research. Indium ore in batteries for hand held/portable electronic is not recovered from ores in the U.S. China is devices, electric tools, electric vehicles and the leading producer. It is also produced in Ko- grid storage. Lithium supply has become a top rea, Japan, Canada, France and Belgium. The priority for U.S. technnology companies in need U.S. was 100 percent import reliant in 2020. of a reliable and deverse supply. There is one brine operation in Nevada, two companies that Iron Ore produce a wide range of downstream lithium Used to manufacture steels of various types. compounds, and other operations in the permit- It’s used in powdered iron, metallurgy products, ting process. Australia, Chile, China and Argen- magnets, high-frequency cores, auto parts, tina are major producers. The U.S. was more catalysts. Radioactive iron (iron 59) is used in than 50 percent reliant for lithium in 2020. medicine and in biochemical and metallurgical research. Iron blue is used in paints, printing Manganese inks, plastics, cosmetics and paper dyeing. Ore is essential to iron and steel production. It’s Black iron oxide is used as pigment, polishing also used in the making of manganese ferroal- compounds, metallurgy, medicine and magnetic loys. Construction, machinery and transportation inks. Most U.S. production is in Michigan and end uses account for most U.S. consumption of Minnesota. Australia, Brazil, China and Russia manganese. Manganese ore has not been pro- are the major producers. The U.S. was not im- duced in the U.S. since 1970. Major producers port reliant in 2020. are South Africa, Australia, Gabon, Ghana and China. The U.S. was 100 percent import reliant Lead in 2020. It’s used in lead-acid batteries, tanks, solders and seals or bearings. It’s also used in electrical 101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2600 | www.nma.org Mica Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) Mica commonly occurs as flakes, scales or PGMs includes platinum, palladium, rhodium, shreds. Ground mica is used in paints, joint iridium, osmium and ruthenium. They common- cement, dusting agents, oil well-drilling muds ly occur together in nature and are among the and plastics, roofing, rubber and welding rods.