Used in chemicals used to impregnate plastics, textiles, rubber, and other materials as a flame retardant. This is required by federal law for certain children’s clothing.

Used to make heat resistant products. Used to be used in building construction (fireproof ceiling panels in schools, for example), but not anymore because it made people sick. Still used in making cement products, automobile and truck brakes, and applications where the fibers are encased and are unlikely to become free-floating.

Has been used by civilizations for centuries to create beautiful deep blue glass, ceramics, pottery and tiles. Superalloys containing this mineral are used in the production of jet engines and gas turbine engines for energy generation.

Drawn into wires or cables for power transmission, building wiring, electronics wiring; telecommunication cables; electronic circuitry; plumbing. As an alloy with tin, zinc, lead, etc. (brass and bronze), it is used in coins and ammunition.

This mineral is used to make dinner plates and bathroom and building tiles. In ceramics and glass production, it is used as a flux to lower the melting temperature of glass.

Most of this mineral is used to make jewelry. Because it is chemically stable and conducts electricity so well, it is used in computers and cell phone circuits.

Used as “lead” in pencils. Also used to make brake linings, lubricants, and molds in foundries.

Used for wallboard and plaster products. All modern homes use a great deal of wallboard for interior walls. Some of this mineral is used to make Portland cement, and some is used in agricultural applications.

Used to make steel for construction, automobiles, trains and train tracks. Powdered forms of this mineral is used in paints, printing inks, plastics, cosmetics (eye shadow), artist colors, laundry blue, paper dyeing, fertilizer, and vitamin supplements.

This mineral is used in the manufacture of glass, ceramics, and aluminum. Batteries made with this mineral are proving to be an effective and affordable alternative to traditional batteries, and also in new battery applications. It is used as medicine to treat gout (an inflammation of joints) and to treat mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder.

Used in wallboard joint compound and as electrical insulators in electronic equipment, thermal insulation, and windows in stove and kerosene heaters.

Used as a fertilizer. It is also used in medicine, to produce animal feed supplements, cement, fire extinguishers, food products, and textiles. It is also used in brewing beer.

Used as low-priced gemstones for jewelry. Also used in a large number of circuits for computers, cell phones, televisions, radios, and electronic games.

Used to make electronic components. It is resistant to corrosion, so it is used to make surgical instruments and medical equipment (rods to attach to broken bones, skull plates, and wire meshes to help repair nerves and muscles). Also used in camera lenses.

Ground up and used in ceramics, paper, paint, roofing, plastics, cosmetics, talcum and baby powders, and a variety of other assorted uses such as making rubber and plastics.

Applied in thin layers to iron and steel products that need to be protected from rusting (galvanizing). Also, used in brass and bronze, paint chemicals, agricultural applications, in the rubber industry, in TV screens, fluorescent lights and for dry cell batteries. Pennies are now made of this mineral - with a thin coating of copper on top.

Used in pumps and valves and the cores of nuclear reactors. Also used in deodorants, flashbulbs, lamp filaments, and in artificial gemstones. It can even be turned into a hard, clear, gem-like material that is marketed as an inexpensive fake diamond gemstone.