Minerals & their Uses
Magnesium
Magnesium (see dolomite) is used in cement, rubber, paper, insulation, chemicals and fertilizers, animal feed, and pharmaceuticals. Magnesium is obtained from the ore minerals Olivine (Fe,Mg)2SiO4, Magnesite MgCO3, and Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2.
Manganese
Manganese is essential to iron and steel production. Manganese is obtained from the ore minerals Braunite (Mn,Si)2O3, Pyrolusite MnO2, and Psilomelane BaMn9O18*2H2O.
Mercury
Mercury is extracted from the mineral cinnabar and is used in electrical products, electrolytic production of chlorine and caustic soda, paint, and industrial and control instruments (thermometers and thermostats).
Mica
Mica minerals commonly occur as flakes, scales, or shreds. Sheet muscovite (white) mica is used in electronic insulators, paints, as joint cement, as a dusting agent, in welldrilling mud and lubricants, and in plastics, roofing, rubber, and welding rods.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is used in stainless steels (21%), tool steels (9%), cast irons (7%), and chemical lubricants (8%), and in other applications (55%). It is commonly used to make automotive parts, construction equipment, gas transmission pipes, and as a pure metal molybdenum is used as filament supports in light bulbs, metalworking dies, and furnace parts because of its high melting temperature (2,623°C).
Nickel
Nickel is vital as an alloy to stainless steel, and it plays a key roll in the chemical and aerospace industries. Leading producers are Canada, Norway, and Russia.
Phosphate Rock
Primarily a sedimentary rock used to produce phosphoric acid and ammoniated phosphate fertilizers, feed additives for livestock, elemental phosphorus, and a variety of phosphate chemicals for industrial and home consumers. The majority of U.S. production comes from Florida, North Carolina, Idaho, and Utah.
Platinum Group Metals (PGMs)
PGM's include platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium, and ruthenium. These elements commonly occur together in nature and are among the scarcest of the metallic elements. Platinum is used principally in catalytic converters for the control of automobile and industrial plant emissions; in jewelry; in catalysts to produce acids, organic chemicals, and pharmaceuticals; and in dental alloys used for making crowns and bridges.
Potash
Potash is an industry term that refers to a group of water-soluble salts containing the element potassium, as well as to ores containing these salts (Kesler, 1994). Potash is used in fertilizer, medicine, the chemical industry, and to produce decorative color effects on brass, bronze, and nickel.
Pyrite
Pyrite (fools gold) is used in the manufacture of sulfur, sulfuric acid, and sulfur dioxide; pellets of pressed pyrite dust are used to recover iron, gold, copper, cobalt, and nickel.
Quartz
Quartz crystals are popular as a semiprecious gemstone; crystalline varieties include amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, and smoky quartz. Because of its piezoelectric properties (the ability to generate electricity under mechanical stress), quartz is used for pressure gauges, oscillators, resonators, and wave stabilizers. Quartz is also used in the manufacture of glass, paints, abrasives, refractories, and precision instruments.
Sandstone
Sandstone is used as a building stone, road bases and coverings, construction fill, concrete, railroad ballast, and snow and ice control.
Silica
Silica is used in the manufacture of computer chips, glass and refractory materials, ceramics, abrasives, and water filtration; and is a component of hydraulic cements, a filler in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, paper, and insecticides; as an anti-caking agent in foods; a flatting agent in paint, and as a thermal insulator.
Silver
Silver is used in photography, chemistry, electrical and electronic products (because of its very high conductivity), fine silverware, electroplated wire, jewelry, coins, and brazing alloys and solders.
Strontium
Photoluminescent exit signs use a class of newly developed phosphorescent pigments that are based on strontium oxide aluminate chemistry.
Sulfur
Sulfur is of importance to every sector of the world's manufacturing processes, drugs, and fertilizer complexes. Sulfur is used as an industrial raw material through its major derivative, sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid production is the major end use for sulfur. Most sulfur goes into fertilizer; oil refining is another major use as well as a source of sulfur.
Talc
The primary use for talc is in the production of paper. Ground talc is used as filler in ceramics, paint, paper, roofing, plastics, cosmetics, and in agriculture. Talc is found in many common household products, such as baby (talcum) powder, deodorant, and makeup. Very pure talc is used in fine arts and is called soapstone. It is often used to carve figurines.