Minerals and Their Uses

Minerals are naturally occurring elements or compounds that make up a large amount of the
earth's crust. The significance of minerals in our daily lives may be seen all around us. Almost
everything we use is a mineral resource, from eating nutrient-rich meals, powering cell phones, and
constructions. There are over 5,000 different minerals found on Earth. Though with a little over 90
naturally occurring elements, there are still many minerals due to the different combinations of
elements to create unique chemical structures. Almost 99% of the Earth's crust is made of only 8
elements: aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, oxygen, potassium, silicon, and sodium. Most
minerals contain one or more of these elements and other elements to give minerals their unique
chemical compositions. The most common minerals on Earth are quartz, feldspar, mica, amphibole
(such as hornblende), and olivine.

Minerals are usually classified as either metallic or nonmetallic. Metallic minerals are
usually formed from the processes that create igneous and metamorphic rocks, specifically
heating or melting and pressure. Examples of metallic minerals include gold, lead, silver,
and aluminum. Nonmetallic minerals are usually formed from pressure alone; sedimentary
rocks are usually the source of nonmetallic minerals. Examples of these include clay,
gypsum, quartz, and mica. Moreover, metallic minerals are naturally occurring elements or
compounds, mostly of metallic nature. Metals are extracted from them using these. These
minerals can be found in the Earth's crust and are frequently used to produce jewelry,
coinage, and tools. Metallic minerals are used in numerous ways. They are used in the
production of metals, alloys, and other items. They're also utilized in building,
manufacturing, and other industries.

On the other hand, minerals have several uses including utilization of minerals on
making products. In this case, metallic minerals are broken apart, melted, and processed
chemically in order to extract useful metals. Iron and steel minerals such as magnetite,
hematite, goethite, limonite, siderite are used for metal shelves or cabinets, metal sinks,
faucets, scissors, nails, screws, and tools. Aluminum mineral such as gibbsite, boehmite,
diaspora can be used in aluminum cans, foil, frames for windows and doors, CDs and
DVDs, computers, LEDs for flashlights, siding for buildings, and parts for transportation
such as cars, bikes, boats, and planes. Copper minerals such as native copper,
chalcopyrite, chalcocite are used for electrical wiring, circuit boards for electrical devices,
pipes for water and gas, coins, roofing, pots and pans. Zinc minerals such as sphalerite is
used for galvanized coatings to protect metals from corrosion, and for electric batteries.
Tungsten minerals such as wolframite and scheelite is used for incandescent and
fluorescent lights. Gold minerals such as native gold, pyrite, and chalcopyrite are used in
jewelry and corrosion resistant electrical components. Silver minerals such as native silver,
argentite, and galena is used in jewelry and photographic film.

Since metallic minerals are sources of metals, they are good conductors of heat and
electricity. As a result, they are used in a wide range of industrial applications. Aluminium
and its alloys are also commonly used in the manufacturing of electronic and
microelectronic components, particularly capacitors. It is also used to make antennas, such
as TV antennae. This metal is utilized in the manufacture of radar. In some nations, even
power line pylons are made of aluminum. Copper is an important element that is used to
make wire for all types of electronics. It transmits electricity and heat extremely well, and it
is required in greater quantities than any other metal for mobile phone componentry. Gold is
mostly utilized in electronics as electroplating chemicals, gold bonding wire, and sputter
targets. In hybrid inks and solders, smaller amounts are used. The most common
application of gold in electronics is as an electroplated coating on connections and contacts.

On the other hand, non-metallic minerals are inorganic solids that are naturally
occurring and do not contain any metal. It is composed of chemical elements that don’t
have the properties of any metals. This means they are not good insulators of heat and
electricity, they lack malleability and ductility, and they break down easily. Simply said, non-
metallic minerals are not used as a source of raw materials to extract metals and even if
they are melted, they do not produce new products. Non-metallic minerals are used as
building materials. The most common example include materials used in construction, such
as glass, brick, and stone.

Non-metallic minerals are used in the production of compounds that are useful for
treating water bodies and agricultural processes. Energy production is a potential use for
non-metallic minerals, which has grown in significance recently. Outside of the earth's crust,
minerals are used for a variety of things, such as jewels like diamonds for jewelry, building
materials like marble, slate, sandpaper, and ceramic tiles, and agricultural fertilizers.
 As minerals have several uses in terms of making products and including
electronics. Minerals also can be utilized and is important for your body to stay healthy.
Your body uses minerals for many different jobs, including keeping your bones, muscles,
heart, and brain working properly. Minerals are also important for making enzymes and
hormones. Minerals also plays a vital role in the growth and development of the human
body. Modern medicine relies on many drugs and instruments also made from minerals.
Protection from X-rays is offered by a lead apron. Sulfur and salts are basic ingredients in
many drugs and pharmaceuticals. Many other minerals are used in vitamins, mineral
supplements, and medicines. There are two kinds of minerals that are essential to our body,
these are macrominerals and trace minerals. We need larger amounts of macrominerals.
This includes calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and sulfur.
While we only need small amounts of trace minerals. This includes iron, manganese,
copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride and selenium.

Most people get the amount of minerals they need by eating a wide variety of foods.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend a mineral supplement. People who have
certain health problems or take some medicines may need to get less of one of the
minerals. Calcium is one of the examples of minerals that it is the most abundant mineral
that can be found in the human body and is required for healthy bones and teeth. It also
helps in regulating blood pressure and the immune system and fluid balance within cells.
Calcium also plays a key role in the efficient working of enzymes. The deficiency of calcium
can lead to brittle bone disease (osteoporosis) which causes bone deterioration. Proper
intake of a calcium-rich diet is thus important for the growth and development of the body.
Milk, cheese, nuts, yoghurt etc are a few calcium-rich foods. Additionally, potassium and
sodium are minerals that have great significance in the human body as they play a vital role
in carrying out electrical and cellular functions. Potassium is the most predominant cation
found within cells. These are used for nerve transmission and muscle contraction.
Potassium is present in more amounts than sodium in our bodies. A high intake of sodium
causes hypertension (high blood pressure). Hence, it is important to maintain a proper
balance of sodium and potassium in the body to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases
and stroke. Green leafy vegetables, fruits, whole grains are high in potassium and low in
sodium. Sulfur, on the other hand, is an important part of the protein. It is also necessary for
insulin production. Seafood, onions, turnips, garlic etc. contain a good amount of sulfur.
Furthermore, the mineral phosphorus is required for healthy bones. The skeleton consists of
85% of body phosphorus. The phosphate ion also helps in maintaining acid-base balance.
Lastly, magnesium is a mineral that contains a major portion present in our bones. It is
important to carry out neuromuscular transmissions and various functions of enzyme
systems.

As several minerals is important for our body to stay healthy, minerals also plays
another important role in terms of its usage in our economy. In this case, as far as economic
uses of minerals are concerned, non-metallic minerals or energy minerals mainly serve the
purpose. The definition of an economic mineral is broader, and includes minerals, metals, rocks
and hydrocarbons (solid and liquid) that are extracted from the earth by mining, quarrying and
pumping. They are used in a variety of sectors, including agriculture, transportation, and
power. It is also used in a wide range of applications related to construction, manufacturing,
agriculture and energy supply. Energy minerals like coal, petroleum, natural gas are the
basic fuels and are used in thermal power generation, automobile engines, cosmetic
industries, manufacture of synthetic rubber and much more. The uses of mineral resources
are immense and the depletion of minerals can create a serious impact on human life.

Energy minerals are one of the examples of economic minerals, it is used to produce
electricity, fuel for transportation, heating for homes and offices and in the manufacture of
plastics. Energy minerals include coal, oil, natural gas and uranium. Metals such as iron (as
steel) is used in cars or for frames of buildings, copper is used in electrical wiring, lithium in
rechargeable batteries, and aluminium in aircraft and to make drinking cans. Precious metals
are used in jewellery and mobile phones. Construction minerals, on the other hand, including
sand and gravel, brick clay and crushed rock aggregates used to manufacture concrete, bricks
and pipes and in building houses and roads. Moreover, industrial minerals otherwise known as
non–metallic minerals, is used in a range of industrial applications including the manufacture of
chemicals, glass, fertilisers and fillers in pharmaceuticals, plastics and paper. Industrial minerals
include salt, clays, graphite, limestone, silica sand, phosphate rock, talc and mica.