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40 Common Minerals and Their Uses

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40 Common Minerals and Their Uses 40 Common Minerals and Their Uses Aluminum Beryllium The most abundant metal element in Earth’s Used in the nuclear industry and to crust. Aluminum originates as an oxide called make light, very strong alloys used in the alumina. Bauxite ore is the main source aircraft industry. Beryllium salts are used of aluminum and must be imported from in fluorescent lamps, in X-ray tubes and as Jamaica, Guinea, Brazil, Guyana, etc. Used a deoxidizer in bronze metallurgy. Beryl is in transportation (automobiles), packaging, the gem stones emerald and aquamarine. It building/construction, electrical, machinery is used in computers, telecommunication and other uses. The U.S. was 100 percent products, aerospace and defense import reliant for its aluminum in 2012. applications, appliances and automotive and consumer electronics. Also used in medical Antimony equipment. The U.S. was 10 percent import A native element; antimony metal is reliant in 2012. extracted from stibnite ore and other minerals. Used as a hardening alloy for Chromite lead, especially storage batteries and cable The U.S. consumes about 6 percent of world sheaths; also used in bearing metal, type chromite ore production in various forms metal, solder, collapsible tubes and foil, sheet of imported materials, such as chromite ore, and pipes and semiconductor technology. chromite chemicals, chromium ferroalloys, Antimony is used as a flame retardant, in chromium metal and stainless steel. Used fireworks, and in antimony salts are used in as an alloy and in stainless and heat resisting the rubber, chemical and textile industries, steel products. Used in chemical and as well as medicine and glassmaking. The U.S. metallurgical industries (chrome fixtures, was 87 percent import reliant in 2012. etc.) Superalloys require chromium. It is produced in South Africa, Kazakhstan and Barium India. The U.S. was 70 percent import reliant A heavy metal contained in barite. Used as for chromium in 2012. a heavy additive in oil well drilling; in the paper and rubber industries; as a filler or Clays extender in cloth, ink and plastics products; Used in floor and wall tile as an absorbent, in in radiography (“barium milkshake”); as a sanitation, mud drilling, foundry sand bond, deoxidizer for copper; a sparkplug in alloys; iron pelletizing, brick, light weight aggregate and in making expensive white pigments. and cement. It is produced in 40 states. Ball clay is used in floor and wall tile. Bentonite is Bauxite used for drilling mud, pet waste absorbent, Rock composed of hydrated aluminum iron ore pelletizing and foundry sand bond. oxides. In the U.S., it is primarily converted Kaolin is used for paper coating and filling, to alumina. See “aluminum.” The U.S. was refractory products, fiberglass, paint, rubber 100 percent import reliant in 2012. and catalyst manufacture. Common clay is used in brick, light aggregate and cement. The U.S. was not import reliant in 2012. 101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2667 | www.nma.org Cobalt Fluorite (fluorspar) Used primarily in superalloys for aircraft gas Used in production of hydrofluoric acid, turbine engines, in cemented carbides for which is used in the pottery, ceramics, cutting tools and wear-resistant applications, optical, electroplating and plastics industries; chemicals (paint dryers, catalysts, magnetic in the metallurgical treatment of bauxite; as coatings) and permanent magnets. The a flux in open hearth steel furnaces and in United States has cobalt resources in metal smelting; in carbon electrodes; emery Minnesota, Alaska, California, Idaho, wheels; electric arc welders; toothpaste; and Missouri, Montana and Oregon. Cobalt paint pigment. It is a key ingredient in the production comes principally from Congo, processing of aluminum and uranium. The China, Canada, Russia, Australia and Zambia. U.S. was 100 percent import reliant in 2012. The U.S. was 78 percent import reliant in 2012. Gallium Gallium is used in integrated circuits, light- Copper emitting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors and Used in building construction, electric and solar cells. It has a new use in chemotherapy electronic products (cables and wires, for some types of cancer. Integrated switches, plumbing, heating); transportation circuits are used in defense applications, equipment; roofing; chemical and high performance computers and pharmaceutical machinery; and alloys (brass, telecommunications. Optoelectronic devices bronze and beryllium alloyed with copper were used in areas such as aerospace, are particularly vibration resistant); alloy consumer goods, industrial equipment, castings; electroplated protective coatings medical equipment and telecommunications. and undercoats for nickel, chromium, zinc, Leading sources are Germany, UK, China etc. More recently copper is being used in and Canada. The U.S. was 99 percent import medical equipment due to its anti-microbial reliant in 2012. properties. The United States has mines in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada and Gold Montana. Leading producers are Chile, Peru, Used in jewelry and arts; dentistry and China, United States and Australia. The U.S. medicine; in medallions and coins; in was 35 percent import reliant in 2012. ingots as a store of value; for scientific and electronic instruments; as an electrolyte Feldspar in the electroplating industry. Mined in A rock-forming mineral; industrially Alaska and several western states. Leading important in glass and ceramic industries; producers are China, Australia, United patter and enamelware; soaps; bond States, Russia and Canada. The U.S. was not for abrasive wheels; cements; insulating import reliant in 2012. compositions; fertilizer; tarred roofing materials; and as a sizing, or filler, in textiles Gypsum and paper. In pottery and glass, feldspar Processed and used as prefabricated functions as a flux. End-uses for feldspar wallboard or an industrial or building plaster; in the U.S. include glass (70 percent) and used in cement manufacturing; agriculture pottery and other uses (30 percent). The and other uses. The U.S. was 12 percent U.S. was not import reliant in 2012. import reliant in 2012. 101 Constitution Avenue N.W. | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2667 | www.nma.org Halite (sodium chloride–salt) ceramics or crystal glass; X-ray and gamma Used in human and animal diet, food radiation shielding; soundproofing material seasoning and food preservation; used in construction industry; and ammunition. to prepare sodium hydroxide, soda ash, Industrial type batteries are used as a source caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, chlorine, of uninteruptible power equipment for metallic sodium; used in ceramic glazes; computer and telecommunications networks metallurgy, curing of hides; mineral waters; and mobile power. United States mines lead soap manufacturing; home water softeners; mainly in Missouri, but also in Alaska and highway de-icing; photography; in scientific Idaho. The U.S. was not import reliant in equipment for optical parts. Single crystals 2012. used for spectroscopy, ultraviolet and infrared transmission. The U.S. was 19 Lithium percent import reliant for salt in 2012. Compounds are used in ceramics and glass; batteries; lubricating greases; air treatment; Indium in primary aluminum production; in the Indium tin oxide is used for electrical manufacture of lubricants and greases; rocket conductivity purposes in flat panel devices propellants; vitamin A synthesis; silver solder; - most commonly in liquid crystal displays batteries; medicine. Lithium ion batteries (LCDs). It is also used in solders, alloys, have become a substitute for nickel-cadmium compounds, electrical components, batteries in hand held/portable electronic semiconductors and research. Indium ore is devices. There is one brine operation in not recovered from ores in the U.S. China is Nevada. Australia, Chile and China are major the leading producer. It is also produced in producers. The U.S. was more than 70 Canada, Japan and Belgium. The U.S. was 100 percent reliant for lithium in 2012. percent import reliant in 2012. Manganese Iron Ore Ore is essential to iron and steel production. Used to manufacture steels of various types. Also used in the making of manganese Powdered iron: used in metallurgy products; ferroalloys. Construction, machinery and magnets; high-frequency cores; auto parts; transportation end uses account for most catalyst. Radioactive iron (iron 59): in U.S. consumption of manganese. Manganese medicine; tracer element in biochemical and ore has not been produced in the U.S. since metallurgical research. Iron blue: in paints, 1970. Major producers are South Africa, printing inks, plastics, cosmetics, paper Australia, China, Gabon and Brazil. The U.S. dyeing. Black iron oxide: as pigment; in was 100 percent import reliant in 2012. polishing compounds; metallurgy; medicine; magnetic inks. Most U.S. production is from Mica Michigan and Minnesota. China, Australia, Micas commonly occur as flakes, scales or Brazil and Russia are the major producers. shreds. Ground mica is used in paints, as The U.S. was not import reliant in 2012. joint cement, as a dusting agent, in oil well- drilling muds; and in plastics, roofing, rubber Lead and welding rods. Sheet mica is fabricated Used in lead-acid batteries, gasoline additives into parts for electronic and electronic (now being eliminated) and tanks, and equipment. China and Russia are leading solders, seals or bearing; used in electrical producers. The U.S. was 100 percent import and
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