TABLE OF CONTENTS | Metal | Main applications | Ore minerals | Formula | % metal | Sp. gr. | Occurrence/associations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALUMINIUM | Where requirements are lightness, high electrical and thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, ease of fabrication. Forms high tensile strength alloys | BAUXITE | AlO(OH) | - | 3.2 3.5 | Bauxite, which occurs massive, is a mixture of minerals such as diaspore, gibbsite, and boehmite with iron oxides and silica. Occurs as residual earth from weathering and leaching of rocks in tropical climates |
| Diaspore | Al(OH) 3 | 2.3 2.4 | ||||
| Gibbsite | AlO(OH) | 3.0 3.1 | ||||
| Boehmite | ||||||
| ANTIMONY | Flame-resistant properties of oxide used in textiles, fibres, and other materials. Alloyed with lead to increase strength for accumulator plates, sheet, and pipe. Important alloying element for bearing and type metals | STIBNITE | Sb 2S 3 | 71.8 | 4.5 4.6 | Main ore mineral. Commonly in quartz grains and in limestone replacements. Associates with galena, pyrite, realgar, orpiment, and cinnabar |
| ARSENIC | Limited use in industry. Small amounts alloyed with copper and lead to toughen the metals. In oxide form, used as insecticide | Arsenopyrite | FeAsS | 46.0 | 5.9 6.2 | Widely distributed in mineral veins, with tin ores, tungsten, gold, and silver, sphalerite and pyrite. Since production of metal is in excess of demand, it is commonly regarded as gangue Often associate in mineral veins in minor amounts |
| Realgar | AsS | 70.1 | 3.5 | |||
| Orpiment | As 2S 3 | 61 | 3.4 3.5 | |||
| BERYLLIUM | Up to 4% Be alloyed with copper to produce high tensile alloys with high fatigue, wear, and corrosion resistance, which are used to make springs, bearings, and valves, and spark-proof tools. Used for neutron absorption in nuclear industry. |
