The Important Usage Of The Main Minerals
The world's ability to support its population is sustained by the many minerals provided by mining. Virtually all of mankind's material needs must be dug from the earth, grown in the soil, or taken from the sea. According to different types of minerals, their useage are different. There are serval main minerals and their important uses:

·Copper: wiring for motors, telephones, televisions, computers, home appliances, functional/decorative hardware, coins.
·Iron: steel production, cars, trains, buildings, bridges, household/commercial products, nails/screws/bolts (fasteners).
·Lead: batteries, weights, X-ray shielding, noise reduction.
·Gold: jewelry, dentistry, electrical contacts (computers/aerospace), laboratory equipment, medical treatment, optics.
·Silver: photography/film, medicine, electrical appliances, automotive parts, air conditioners, refrigerator equipment, jewelry, silverware, coins.
·Lithium: lubricating grease, high efficiency batteries, ceramics/glass.
·Magnesite: lining kilns/boilers, sugar, additive in cattle feed.
·Barite: oil well drilling mud, bowling balls, rubber, medicines.
·Gypsum: main ingredient in wallboard (sheetrock) and used as a soil conditioner.
·Sand, Gravel and other Aggregates: roadways, cement, cinder blocks, golf course sand traps.
·Silica sand: window panes, fiber optics, jars and bottles.
·Zinc: plating, rust inhibitors, paint.

Article Sources: http://minerals.state.nv.us/min_ModernMiningReclam.htm