Aluminum

Most abundant metal element in Earth's crust. Bauxite ore is the main source of aluminum and must be imported from Guinea, Australia, Jamaica, etc. Used in, transportation (37 percent), packaging (23 percent) building (13 percent), electrical (8 percent), machinery (8 percent), other (14 percent).

Antimony

A native element; antimony metal is extracted from stibnite and other minerals. Used as a hardening alloy for lead, especially storage batteries and cable sheaths; also used in bearing metal, type metal, solder, collapsible tubes and foil, sheet and pipes and semiconductor technology. Antimony is used in fireworks, and antimony salts are used in the rubber and textile industries, as well as medicine and glassmaking. It is also used as a flame retardant.

Barium

Used as a heavy additive in oil well drilling; in the paper and rubber industries; as a filler or extender in cloth, ink and plastics products; in radiography ("barium milkshake"); as a deoxidizer for copper; a sparkplug in alloys; and in making expensive white pigments.

Bauxite

Rock composed of hydrated aluminum oxides. See "aluminum."

Beryllium

Used in the nuclear industry and to make light, very strong alloys used in the aircraft industry. Beryllium salts are used in fluorescent lamps, in X-ray tubes and as a deoxidizer in bronze metallurgy. Beryl is the gem stones emerald and aquamarine. It is used in computers, telecommunication products, aerospace and defense applications, appliances and automotive electronics.

Chromite

The U.S. consumes about 10 percent of world chromite ore production in various forms of imported materials, such as chromite ore, chromite chemicals, chromium ferroalloys, chromium metal and stainless steel. It is produced in South Africa, Kazakhstan and India. Used mainly in chemical and metallurgical industries (chrome fixtures, etc.)

Clays

Used in floor and wall tile as an absorbent, in sanitation, mud drilling, foundry sand bond, iron pelletizing, brick, light weight aggregate and cement; produced in 41 states. Bentonite is used for sand foundry, sand bond, pet waste absorbent and mud drilling. Kaolin is used for paper coating and filling, refractory products, fiberglass, paint, rubber and catalyst manufacture.

Cobalt

Used in superalloys for jet engines, chemicals (paint dryers, catalysts, magnetic coatings), permanent magnets and cemented carbides for cutting tools. Cobalt comes principally from Congo, Canada, Zambia, Australia, Cuba and Russia. The United States has cobalt resources in Minnesota, Alaska, California, Idaho, Missouri, Montana and Oregon.

Copper

Used in building construction, electric cables and wires, switches, plumbing, heating; roofing and; chemical and pharmaceutical machinery; alloys (brass, bronze and a new alloy with 3 percent beryllium that is particularly vibration resistant); alloy castings; electroplated protective coatings and undercoats for nickel, chromium, zinc, etc. More recently copper is being used in medical equipment due to its anti-microbial properties. Leading producers are Chile, United States, China, Peru, and Australia.

Feldspar

A rock-forming mineral; industrially important in glass and ceramic industries; patter and enamelware; soaps; bond for abrasive wheels; cements; insulating compositions; fertilizer; tarred roofing materials; and as a sizing, or filler, in textiles and paper. In pottery and glass, feldspar functions as a flux. End-uses for feldspar in the U.S. include glass (65 percent) and pottery and other uses (35 percent).

Fluorite (fluorspar)

Used in production of hydrofluoric acid, which is used in the pottery, ceramics, optical, electroplating and plastics industries; in the metallurgical treatment of bauxite; as a flux in open hearth steel furnaces and in metal smelting; in carbon electrodes; emery wheels; electric arc welders; toothpaste; and paint pigment. It is a key ingredient in the processing of aluminum and uranium.

Gallium

Gallium is used in integrated circuits, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors and solar cells. It has a new use in chemotherapy for some types of cancer. Integrated circuits are used in defense applications, high performance computers and telecommunications.

Gold

Used in dentistry and medicine; in jewelry and arts; in medallions and coins; in ingots as a store of value; for scientific and electronic instruments; as an electrolyte in the electroplating industry. Leading producers are South Africa, United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China and Commonwealth of Independent States.

Gypsum

Processed and used as prefabricated wallboard or an industrial or building plaster; used in cement manufacturing; agriculture and other uses.

Halite (sodium chloride--salt)

Used in human and animal diet, food seasoning and food preservation; used to prepare sodium hydroxide, soda ash, caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, chlorine, metallic sodium; used in ceramic glazes; metallurgy, curing of hides; mineral waters; soap manufacturing; home water softeners; highway de-icing; photography; in scientific equipment for optical parts. Single crystals used for spectroscopy, ultraviolet and infrared transmission.

Indium

Indium tin oxide is used for electrical conductivity purposes in flat panel devices - most commonly in liquid crystal displays (LCDs). It is also used in solders, alloys, compounds, electrical components, semiconductors and research. Indium ore is not recovered from ores in the U.S. China is the leading producer.

Iron Ore

Used to manufacture steels of various types. Powdered iron: used in metallurgy products; magnets; high-frequency cores; auto parts; catalyst. Radioactive iron (iron 59): in medicine; tracer element in biochemical and metallurgical research. Iron blue: in paints, printing inks, plastics, cosmetics, paper dyeing. Black iron oxide: as pigment; in polishing compounds; metallurgy; medicine; magnetic inks. Most U.S. production is from Minnesota and Michigan. China, Brazil, Australia and the Commonwealth of Independent States are the major producers.

Lead

Used in lead batteries, gasoline additives (now being eliminated) and tanks, and solders, seals or bearing; used in electrical and electronic applications; TV tubes and glass, construction, communications and protective coatings; in ballast or weights; ceramics or crystal glass; X-ray and gamma radiation shielding; soundproofing material in construction industry; and ammunition. United States is largest producer (mainly from Missouri) and consumer of lead metal. It is also produced in Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Washington.

Lithium

Compounds are used in ceramics and glass; in primary aluminum production; in the manufacture of lubricants and greases; rocket propellants; vitamin A synthesis; silver solder; batteries; medicine. Lithium ion batteries have become a substitute for nickel-cadmium batteries in hand held electronic devices.

Manganese

Essential to iron and steel production. Construction, machinery and transportation end uses account for most U.S. consumption of manganese. Major producers are South Africa, China, Gabon and Brazil. Manganese ore is not produced in the U.S.

Mica

Micas commonly occur as flakes, scales or shreds. Sheet muscovite (white) mica is used in electronic insulators; ground mica in paints, as joint cement, as a dusting agent, in well-drilling muds; and in plastics, roofing, rubber and welding rods.

Molybdenum

Used in alloy steels to make automotive parts, construction equipment, gas transmission pipes; stainless steels; tool steels; cast irons; super alloys; and chemicals and lubricants. As a pure metal, molybdenum is used because of its high melting temperatures (4,730 F) as filament supports in light bulbs, metalworking dies and furnace parts. Major producers are the United States, China, Chile and Peru.

Nickel

Vital as an alloy to stainless steel; plays key role in the chemical and aerospace industries. Major producers are Russia, Canada, Indonesia, and Australia

Perlite

Expanded perlite is used in roof insulation boards; as fillers, filter aids and for horticulture.

Platinum Group Metals (PGM)

Includes platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium. Commonly occur together in nature and are among the scarcest of the metallic elements. Platinum is used principally in catalysts for the control of automobile and industrial plant emissions; in jewelry; in catalysts to produce acids, organic chemicals and pharmaceutical. PGMs used in bushings for making glass fibers used in fiber-reinforced plastic and other advanced materials, in electrical contacts, in capacitors, in conductive and resistive films used in electronic circuits; in dental alloys used for making crowns and bridge.

Phosphate rock

Used to produce phosphoric acid for ammoniated phosphate fertilizers, feed additives for livestock, elemental phosphorus, and a variety of phosphate chemicals for industrial and home consumers. U.S. production occurs in Michigan, New Mexico and Utah. The U.S. is a major producer.

Potash

A carbonate of potassium; used as a fertilizer, in medicine, in the chemical industry and to produce decorative color effects on brass, bronze and nickel. The leading producers are Canada and Russia.

Pyrite

Used in the manufacture of sulfur, sulfuric acid and sulfur dioxide; pellets of pressed pyrite dust are used to recover iron, gold, copper, cobalt, nickel; used to make inexpensive jewelry.

Quartz (silica)

As a crystal, quartz is used as a semiprecious gem stone. Crystalline varieties include amethyst, citrine, rose quartz, smoky quartz, etc. Cryptocrystalline forms include agate, jasper, onyx, etc. Because of its piezoelectric properties quartz is used for pressure gauges, oscillators, resonators and wave stabilizes; because of its ability to rotate the plane of polarization of light and its transparency in ultraviolet rays, it is used in heat-ray lamps, prism and spectrographic lenses. Also used in manufacturing glass, paints, abrasives, refractory materials and precision instruments.

Rare Earth Elements (lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium ytterbium and lutetium)

Used mainly in petroleum fluid cracking catalysts, metallurgical additives, ceramics and polishing compounds, permanent magnets and phosphors. It is estimated that 40 pounds of rare earths are used in a hybrid car for rechargeable battery, permanent magnet motor and the regenerative braking system.

Silica

Used in manufacture of computer chips, glass and refractory materials; ceramics; abrasives; water filtration; component of hydraulic cements; filler in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, paper, insecticides; anti-caking agent in foods; flatting agent in paints; thermal insulator. China is the leading producer.

Silver

Used in coins and medals, industrial applications, jewelry, silverware and photography. The physical properties of silver include ductility, electronics conductivity, malleability and reflectivity. Used in lining vats and other equipment for chemical reaction vessels, water distillation, etc.; a catalyst in manufacture of ethylene; mirrors; silver plating; table cutlery; dental, medical and scientific equipment; bearing metal; magnet windings; brazing alloys, solder. Also used in catalytic converters, cell phone covers, electronics and circuit boards. The leading producers include Peru, Mexico, China, Chile and Australia.

Sodium Carbonate (soda ash or trona)

Used in glass container manufacture; in fiberglass and specialty glass; also used in production of flat glass; in liquid detergents; in medicine; as a food additive; photography; cleaning and boiler compounds; pH control of water. Most U.S. production comes from Wyoming. The U.S. is a major producer.

Sulfur

Used in the manufacture of sulfuric acid, fertilizers, petroleum refining; and metal mining. The U.S., Canada and China are major producers.

Tantalum

A refractory metal with unique electrical, chemical and physical properties used to produce electronic components, tantalum capacitors (in auto electronics, pagers, personal computers and portable telephones) ; for high-purity tantalum metals in products ranging from weapon systems to superconductors; high-speed tools; catalyst; sutures and body implants; electronic circuitry; thin-film components. Used in optical glass and electroplating devices. Leading producers are Australia, Brazil and Ethiopia.

Titanium

Titanium mineral concentrates are used primarily by titanium dioxide pigment producers. A small amount is used in welding rod coatings and for manufacturing carbides, chemicals and metals. It is produced in Florida and Virginia. Leading producing countries are Australia, South Africa, Canada and China.

Titanium and titanium dioxide are used in aerospace applications (in jet engines, airframes and space and missile applications). It is also used in armor, chemical processing, marine, medical, power generation, sporting goods and other non-aerospace applications. The leading producers are China, Japan, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Tungsten

More than half of the tungsten consumed in the United States was used in cemented carbide parts for cutting and wear-resistant materials, primarily in the construction, metalworking, mining, and oil- and gas-drilling industries. The remaining tungsten was consumed to make tungsten heavy alloys for applications requiring high density; electrodes, filaments, wires, and other components for electrical, electronic, heating, lighting, and welding applications; steels, superalloys, and wear-resistant alloys; and chemicals for various applications. China is by far the leading producer. Russia, Canada and Austria also produce tungsten. The U.S. produces very little.

Uranium

More than 20 percent of America's electricity is produced using uranium in nuclear generation. It is also used for nuclear medicine, atomic dating, powering nuclear submarines and other uses in the U.S. defense system.

Vanadium

Metallurgical use, primarily as an alloying agent for iron and steel, accounted for about 92 percent of the domestic vanadium consumption in 2008. Of the other uses for vanadium, the major non-metallurgical use was in catalysts for the production of maleic anhydride and sulfuric acid. South Africa, the U.S. and China are largest producers.

Zeolites

Used in aquaculture (fish hatcheries for removing ammonia from the water); water softener; in catalysts; cat litter; odor control; and for removing radioactive ions from nuclear plant effluent.

Zinc

Of the total zinc consumed in the U.S., about 55 percent was used in galvanizing, 21 percent in zinc-based alloys, 16 percent in brass and bronze, and 8 percent in other uses. Zinc compounds and dust were used principally by the agriculture, chemical, paint, and rubber industries.

Major co-products of zinc mining and smelting, in order of decreasing tonnage, were lead, sulfuric acid, cadmium, silver, gold and germanium. Zinc is used as protective coating on steel, as die casting, as an alloying metal with copper to make brass and as chemical compounds in rubber and paints; used as sheet zinc and for galvanizing iron; electroplating; metal spraying; automotive parts; electrical fuses; anodes; dry cell batteries; nutrition; chemicals; roof gutter; engravers' plates; cable wrappings; organ pipes and pennies. Zinc oxide used in medicine, paints, in vulcanizing rubber, sun block. Zinc dust used for primers, paints, precipitation of noble metals; removal of impurities from solution in zinc electrowinning. U.S. production is inseven states and 16 mines. Leading producers are China, Australia and the U.S.

Source: Facts About Minerals (National Mining Association); Mineral Information Institute, USGS