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Common Minerals and Their Uses
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Hematite
A primary ore of iron, used in steel manufacturing, and as a pigment (red ochre).
Limonite
Used as a pigment in yellow, brown, and ochre paints, and as a minor ore of iron.
Chrysotile
Previously used for fireproofing, insulation, brake linings, and roofing materials, now banned in many countries due to health hazards.
Wolframite
The primary ore of tungsten, used in metalworking, construction and electrical machinery and equipment.
Mica
Used as an insulator in electrical equipment, in cosmetics for shimmer, and as a heat shield in space vehicles.
Apatite
Used as a source of phosphorus for fertilizers, in biological systems (teeth and bones), and as a gemstone.
Zircon
Used in foundries, refractories, ceramics, and as a diamond substitute and gemstone.
Anhydrite
Used as a drying agent in plaster, paint, and varnish, and as a soil treatment agent.
Azurite
Used as a copper ore and historically as a pigment; nowadays primarily a collector's mineral.
Spodumene
An ore of lithium used in the manufacturing of lithium batteries, ceramics, and glass.
Platinum
Used in catalytic converters, jewelry, laboratory equipment, and electrical contacts.
Fluorite
Used in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid, as a flux in steel production, and in the production of fluoropolymer plastics.
Calcite
Used in the manufacture of cement, as a flux in steel production, and for soil stabilization.
Galena
The primary ore of lead, used in the production of lead-acid batteries, bullets, and as a radiation shield.
Graphite
Used in lubricants, as the 'lead' in pencils, as a moderator in nuclear reactors, and for electrodes in batteries.
Corundum
Used as an abrasive, and as a gemstone in its transparent colored forms (ruby and sapphire).
Scheelite
An ore of tungsten, which is used in steel alloys for hardness.
Quartz
Used in glassmaking, electronics (as a silicon semiconductor), and optics.
Dolomite
Used as a source of magnesium oxide, in steelmaking as a flux, and for acid neutralization.
Monazite
A source of rare earth elements, used in manufacturing electronics, in alloys, and as a minor source of thorium.
Columbite-Tantalite
Source of niobium and tantalum, used in high-strength steel alloys and for capacitors in electronic devices like mobile phones.
Ilmenite
One of the main sources of titanium, used in the paint industry and in high-strength-low-alloy steels.
Chalcopyrite
A major source of copper, used in electrical wires, pipes, and coins.
Sphalerite
The most important ore of zinc, used in galvanized steel, die-casting of intricate machine parts, and alloys.
Magnetite
An important source of iron ore, used in steel production and as a pigment in black paints.
Uraninite
The primary ore of uranium, used for nuclear fuel and in nuclear weapons.
Cassiterite
The primary ore of tin, used in the production of tin cans, in solder, and in bronze and pewter.
Feldspar
Used in the manufacture of ceramics, as a filler in paints, plastics, and rubber, and in the production of glass.
Pyrite
Once used as a source of sulfur and sulfuric acid, now primarily as a mineral specimen.
Siderite
Used as an ore of iron and as a mineral specimen.
Talc
Used as a filler in ceramics, paint, paper, roofing materials, plastics, and rubber; in cosmetics as a body powder.
Barite
Used in drilling muds for oil and gas wells, as a white pigment, and as a filler in textiles and rubber.
Bornite
An ore of copper that tarnishes to a unique purple color, used as a minor ore of copper and as a mineral specimen.
Olivine
Used in refractory bricks and forsterite is used in glass and ceramic production.
Halite
Primarily used for road de-icing and as table salt, also in food preservation and seasoning.
Malachite
Used as a copper ore, in jewelry, and historically, as a pigment.
Cinnabar
The primary ore of mercury, used in thermometers, barometers, and electrical equipment; also a historic pigment.
Gypsum
Used in the production of plaster, wallboard, and cement, and as a fertilizer.
Bauxite
The main source of aluminum, used in the production of automobile parts, airplanes, and packaging materials.
Garnet
Used as an abrasive in sandpaper, in waterjet cutting, and as a gemstone.
Rutile
The main source of titanium, used in paints, plastics, paper, foods, and cosmetics.
Kyanite
Used in ceramics, as a gemstone, and kyanite's high heat resistance makes it suitable for use in refractory products.
Asbestos
Historically used for insulation, fireproofing, and textiles; now banned in many places due to health risks.
Pyrolusite
The main ore of manganese, used in manufacturing of steel alloys and battery cells.
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