Al - Aluminum
Source: Bauxite
Formation: A weathering product of low iron and silica bedrock in tropical climatic conditions
Size: (WM/D- 53) 8x8 cm
Al - Products
Usage: Transportation (cars, aircrafts, railway cars, bicycles), electronics and CDs, packaging such as cans for fizzy drinks and aluminum foils
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Clay Minerals
Formation: Forms over long periods of time by the gradual chemical weathering of rocks
Size: 8 cm
Clay - Products
Uses: Building material (bricks and cement production), ceramics, paper making, smooth coatings on medicine, coatings on magazines
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Cu - Copper
Source: Chalcopyrite, Bornite
Formation: Mainly in Cu-sulfides in porphyry copper ore deposits associated with granitic intrusive rocks
Size: 13 cm
Cu - Refined copper metal
Properties: Good electrical and thermal conductor, ductile and malleable, impermeable
Cu - Products
Uses: Brass and bronze alloys, plumbing, electrical wiring, electromagnets, cookware, coins
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F - Fluorine
Source: Flourite
Formation: Occur dominantly as a vein deposit of hydrothermal origin and in granites and other igneous rocks
Size: 15 cm
F - Products
Uses: Toothpaste to prevent dental cavities, carbon fluorine compound used for non-sticky Teflon® coating in pots and for water-proofed Gore-tex® fabrics
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Au - Gold
Source: Native Gold
Formation: Occurs as grains in hydrothermal quartz veins or as nuggets in alluvial deposits
Size: 2mm nuggets
Au - Products
Properties: Conducts electricity, dense, malleable and ductile, rare
Uses: Circuit boards, dentistry, jewelry
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C - Graphite
Formation: Graphite is produced through the metamorphism of organic material in rocks
C - Products
Properties: Soft, opaque, electrical conductor
Uses: Pencils, lubricants, carbon fiber, batteries
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Hydrocarbons
Source: Crude Oil
Formation: Forms from accumulated and buried remains of plants and animals, transformed by heat and pressure into crude oil over millions of years
Hydrocarbon - Products
Hydrocarbon - Products Kerosene, gasoline, fuel oil
Properties: High energy density, flammable, easy transportable
Usage: Major energy supply we use to light, heat and run our world; all types of plastics and polystyrene containers
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Fe - Iron
Source: Hematite, Magnetite
Formation: In sedimentary rocks precipitating from water (Banded Iron Formations, hydrothermal deposits) as well as in igneous and metamorphic rocks
Refined iron metal as stainless steel
Properties: High strength, rigid, hard, does not rust, relative low cost
Fe
- Products
Uses: Stainless steel is used for building materials, machinery, automobiles, ships, nails, screws, bolts and cutlery
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Hg - Mercury
Source: Cinnabar, Native Metal
Formation: As a vein-filling mineral associated with recent volcanic activity and alkaline hot springs
Size: 6 cm
Hg - Products
Properties: Liquid at room temperature
Uses: Thermometer, in amalgam material for dental fillings
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Si - Silicon
Source: Variations of Quartz, Quartz sand, Quartz sandstone
Refined silicon metal
Properties: Transparent, hard, rigid, impermeable, piezoelectric
Si - Products
Uses: Any type of glass (e.g. drinking glasses, window glass), in electronics, silicon chips in computers, quartz watches
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Ag - Silver
Source: Argentite, Native metal
Formation: Occurs as grains or argentite ore in low-temperature hyrdrothermal quartz veins or as nuggets in alluvial deposits
Ag - Products
Uses: Jewelry, high-end audio cables and mirrors, photography (AgCl)
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S - Sulphur
Source: Native Sulfur, Sulfides & Sulfates
Formation: In association with hot springs and evaporates Size: (Left) 7 cm / (Right) 12 cm
S - Products
Uses: Fertilizer, Insecticides, vulcanization of natural rubber (durable rubber soles of sneakers), gunpowder, matches, production of sulfuric acid
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Talc - Products
Formation: Through metamorphism of Mg-bearing minerals
Size: 11 cm
Talc - Products
Uses: Talcum powder and cosmetics, lubricant in lotions, filler in paper production, baby powder, ceramics
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Sn - Tin
Source: Cassiterite Ore
Formation: In association with granitic intrusive rocks or in seconday placer deposits
Refined tin metal
Properties: Compressible, malleable, ductile, does not rust, impermeable
Sn - Products
Uses: Bronze and pewter alloys, solders, tin coating on steel to prevent corrosion, tin-plated steel containers for food preservation (tin cans)
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W - Tungsten
Source: Wolframite ore
Formation: In quartz veins and pegmatites associated with granitic intrusive rocks
Properties: High melting point, strong, rigid
W- Products
Uses: Electronics, filament in light bulbs, tip of ball pens, tungsten carbide abrasives
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