Chromite is the third most important base metal partly due to is use with steel to make various stainless steel alloys that are essential for modern life. But it is iron ore - used to make steel - which is the most important mineral.
This great article sums it all up: http://www.republicofmining.com/2012/10/26/iron-ore-the-lore-of-ore-the-economist-october-13-2012/
The list below shows the top eight most important base metals:
Iron ore/raw steel [91% global mineral production] (2.8 billion tons) - used for a structural support in buildings, appliances, automobile frames and engines, fastening products (nails/bolts), manufacturing machinery, stamping mills, trains, ships, railroad infrastructure, cutting tools, chemical tanks, industrial and aircraft turbines and military products
Aluminum/bauxite [>3%] (44 million tons)– aircraft frames, automotive parts, window frames, kitchen ware, electronics, wire and cable, cans and foil
Chromium [>2%] (24 million tons) – strategic aircraft engine alloys, consumer product plating , stainless steels [no substitutes for its unique properties]
Copper [>2%] (16.1 million tons) – electrical wires, cables and fittings, pipes, kettles, bowls, circuit boards, coinage, bronzes, brasses
Manganese [>1%] (14 million tons) – automobile parts, portable electronics, appliances, power tools, aerospace alloys [no substitutes for its unique properties]
Zinc [> 1%] (12.4 million tons) – automotive applications and galvanizing steel for rust prevention, castings
Lead [>1%] (4.5 million tons) – batteries, roofing, glass, sound and radiation protection
Nickel [>1%] (1.8 million tons) – corrosive resistant alloys for petro-chemical and industrial uses, military applications, aircraft engines, stainless steels, consumers applications and industrial plating, battery components, catalysts, coins [very little substitutes for its unique properties]
By Comparison:
Gold [>1] (2,700 tons) – investment, jewellery, electronics and foil
Silver [>1] (23,800 tons) – flatware, photography, medical, solar production
17 Rare Earth Elements [<1] (130,000 tons) – electric vehicles, wind turbines and other high-tech devices
[Approximate per cent of total global mineral production-USGS]
(Estimated 2011 production in millions of tons-USGS)
Strategic Miner
