Future Qld Resources: 30 everyday things made possible by mining

From birthing suite to funeral, meat and veg to the Melbourne Cup, there’s scarcely a facet of our lives mining doesn’t touch. SEE THE LIST

Mining is usually associated with energy generation and carbon emissions, but its impact on our lives goes much, much deeper.

These are the everyday things mining makes possible.

This story is part of The Courier-Mail’s special Future Queensland: Resources series that reveals the truth about the contribution the much-maligned resources industry makes to Queensland. You can read all of our coverage here

1. Electricity

Energy generation = Uranium, C

Fluorescent lighting = Terbium, Yttrium, Lanthanum

Production and transmission = Iron, Copper, Aluminium

LED lights = Gallium, Europium, Terbium, Cerium

Halogen = Iron, Chromium, Tungsten

2. Food processing

Machinery used to manufacture food = Chromium, Carbon, Iron, Nickel, Manganese, Molybdenum

Caning = Tin

Flavour enhancer = Sodium

Alloys reduce food contamination = Copper

Foil packets, Drink cans = Aluminium

Blender blades, Machinery plating = Chromium

3. Health care

Pacemakers, Medical apparatus = Platinum

Artificial joints, Prosthetic limbs, Surgical equipment = Titanium

Kills surface microbes and reduces infections, Electronic devices = Copper

Treatment of bipolar disorder, Medical implant batteries = Lithium

Imaging, Radiation therapy = Uranium

Medical devices = Niobium

Cancer treatment, Diagnosis = Gold

MRIs and X-rays, Diagnostic tracer = Gadolinium

Anti-bacterial, Aids healing = Silver

4. Smartphones

Electronics = Gold, Silver, Copper Tungsten, Tantalum

Battery = Aluminium, Cobalt, Lithium

Touch screen = Potassium, Tin, Silicon, Indium, Gallium, Aluminium

Sound = Nickel, Neodymium, Samarium, Praseodymium

5. White goods

Steel used to build white goods = Iron, Cobalt, Carbon

Paint and some finishes = Titanium

Stainless steel = Carbon, Manganese, Nickel, Silicon, Chromium and Iron

Electrical wiring, Compressors = Copper

Condenser, Fan blades = Aluminium

6. Electric cars

Car body and chassis (strengthened steel and aluminium alloys) = Iron, Vanadium, Manganese, Magnesium, Molybdenum, Aluminium

LCD screens, Windscreens = Cerium

Connectors, Brakes, Bearings = Copper

EV batteries = Lithium, Nickel, Carbon, Cobalt

Magnets in EV motors = Dysprosium, Neodymium

7. Defence

Navigation, Radio equipment = Silver

Communications, Missiles = Neodymium

Jet aircraft, Missiles = Samarium

Exhausts, Turbine fans = Rhenium

Fibre optics, Infrared optics, Electronics = Germanium

Targeting systems, Radar = Yttrium

Armour plating = Vanadium

Batteries, Ship building, Jet engines = Manganese

Ammunition = Antimony

8. Solar panels

Solar panels = Beryllium, Tellurium, Indium, Silver, Molybdenum, Cadmium, Silicon

Semi-conductor = Germanium, Gallium

Frame = Aluminium, Titanium, Zinc, Magnesium

Wiring = Copper

9. Your house

Steel = Iron, Manganese, Chromium, Nickel, Molybdenum, Vanadium

Mortar Concrete = Carbon

Plumbing, Electrical wiring, airconditioning = Copper

Cladding, Window frames, Fixtures = Aluminium

Solder = Lead, Tin

House paint = Zinc, Titanium

10. Public transport

Aircraft = Titanium, Niobium, Aluminium, Zinc, Neodymium, Scandium

Trains, Trams, Buses and Taxis = Iron, Aluminium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Magnesium, Vanadium

Airconditioning = Iron, Silicon, Copper, Aluminium

GPS and Electronics = Copper, Gold, Tin

11. Cleaning products

Bleach, Pool cleaner = Chlorine

Laundry powders, Dish detergent = Phosphorus

Detergents, Oven cleaner, Drain opener = Sodium

Cleansers, Water softener, Detergents = Boron

Plastic bottles, Soaps = Zinc

Steam cleaning, Furniture polish = Silicon

Plastic bottles, Stain remover = Carbon

Disinfectants, Sanitisers = Iodine

Picture: Damian Shaw/NCA NewsWire

12. Sydney Harbour Bridge

Electrified rail = Copper, Carbon

Steel beams and supports = Carbon, Iron, Silicon, Manganese

Fireworks:

– Glitter = Antimony

– Smoke = Zinc

– Whites = Titanium

– Greens = Barium

– Reds = Strontium

– Blues = Copper

Flag pole = Aluminium, Zinc

13. Gaming consoles

LCD screen = Silicon, Europium, Indium, Terbium, Yttrium, Tin

Computer processors = Silicon, Phosphorous, Antimony, Boron, Tantalum

Circuit boards = Gold, Copper, Beryllium, Germanium, Silver, Tungsten

Batteries = Lithium, Nickel

14. Personal hygiene

Cosmetic pigment, Metal polish = Iron

Whitening agent in powers and cosmetics = Titanium

Fragrances, Tanning lotions = Potassium

Toothpaste = Fluorine, Calcium, Aluminium, Sodium

Deodorant = Aluminium, Zirconium

Sunscreens, Soaps = Zinc

Electric shavers, Toothbrushes = Copper

Anti-caking (talc) used in foundations, powders and creams = Magnesium

15. Currency

Investment = Gold, Platinum, Silver

Coin press robotics = Iron, Carbon, Copper, Zinc

Australia’s 5, 10, 20 and 50 cent coins = Copper, Nickel

Australia’s $1 and $2 coins = Copper, Aluminium, Nickel

Collector coins = Gold, Platinum, Silver

16. Batteries

EV batteries = Silicon, Tin, Europium

Alkaline batteries = Zinc, Manganese, Potassium

Silver-oxide batteries (i.e. watches) = Silver, Zinc, Potassium

Li-ion batteries (i.e. mobile phones) = Lithium, Cobalt, Carbon

Lead and acid car batteries = Lead

17. Commercial printing

Ink pigment = Cadmium, Iron, Carbon, Chromium, Titanium, Bromine

Paper and cardboard = Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium

3D printing = Chromium, Silicon, Nickel, Silver, Carbon, Nitrogen, Manganese, Titanium

Pen tips = Osmium

18. Dentistry

Dental implants = Zirconium, Titanium

Crowns and bridges = Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium

Dental amalgam (fillings) = Silver, Copper, Tin, Mercury

Porcelain veneers, Synthetic resin filling = Aluminium

Dental drills and instruments (also stainless steel) = Tungsten, Carbon, Cobalt, Nickel, Rhodium, Titanium

X-rays = Uranium

19. Funerals

High temperature refractory cremator bricks = Aluminium, Magnesium, Silicon, Calcium, Chromium

Cryogenic Procedures = Indium, Nitrogen

Coffins and urns = Copper, Silver, Gold, Titanium, Zinc

Stainless steel (cremators) = Iron, Chromium, Silicon, Carbon, Nickel, Manganese

20. Film and television

Sound bars and speakers = Titanium, Aluminium

DSLR cameras = Silicon, Tin, Tantalum, Tungsten, Aluminium, Zinc

Television (electronics) = Copper, Chromium, Silicon, Gold, Tin, Zinc

Oscar statuette = Tin, Antimony

21. Meat and vegetables

Vegetable storage and distribution = Iron, Chromium, Manganese, Carbon, Nickel

Tractors and harvesters = Iron, Aluminium

Farm fertilisers = Phosphorous, Nitrogen, Potassium, Sulfur, Iron

Stock feed nutrients = Copper, Cobalt, Selenium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc

22. Home protection

Thermal imaging home security cameras = Silicon, Indium, Germanium, Antimony

Fire sprinklers = Bismuth, Lead, Tin, Cadmium

Fire extinguisher = Aluminium, Phosphorous

Smoke detectors = Americium, Silver, Gold, Lithium

Home safe = Iron, Carbon

23. Environmental solutions

Soil quality, Fertilisers = Calcium

Carbon capture and storage = Iron, Aluminium, Carbon, Zinc

Water desalination (nanofibre membrane technology) = Carbon, Aluminium

Air filtration, Humidifiers = Carbon

Catalytic converters (reduce vehicle and other emissions) = Platinum, Rhodium, Palladium, Gold, Carbon, Zinc, Iron, Manganese, Nickel

Plant health, Soil quality = Potassium

24. Melbourne Cup

18 carat gold Metal alloys include = Gold, Copper, Zinc, Silver, Nickel

Horse shoes = Iron

Stainless steel (Bits and buckles, stirrups and other equipment) = Silicon, Iron, Chromium, Manganese, Carbon, Nickel

Racehorse nutrition = Calcium, Selenium, Copper, Cobalt, Zinc, Sodium

25. Birthing suites

Foetal monitor = Copper, Gold, Aluminium

Baby powder = Magnesium, Silicon

Forceps, clamps and other surgical instruments = Nickel, Silicon, Iron, Manganese, Carbon, Chromium

Ultrasound machine = Aluminium, Copper, Zirconium, Lead, Titanium

Birthing bed = Carbon, Iron

26. Brewing beer

Brass fittings and valves = Copper, Zinc

Brewing kettle = Copper, Aluminium

Amber bottles = Sulfur, Iron, Carbon

Green bottles = Iron, Silicon, Chromium

Beer cans = Aluminium, Tin

27. Lenses and telescopes

Optical glass (in camera lenses, telescopes, microscopes and binoculars) = Silicon, Sodium, Boron, Tantalum, Potassium

Digital camera batteries = Nickel, Lithium

Mirrors = Silicon, Aluminium, Boron

Hardware components = Iron, Zinc and Carbon

28. Roads and rail

Railway tracks = Iron, Manganese, Carbon

Traffic lights = Silicon, Aluminium, Copper

Guard rails = Aluminium, Zinc, Magnesium

Bridges = Iron, Molybdenum

Road markings = Titanium, Chromium

Road signs = Aluminium, Zinc

Cats eyes = Silicon

29. Wind farms

Generator magnet = Iron, Boron, Neodymium, Dysprosium

Steel used to build turbines = Iron, Carbon

Battery energy storage = Cobalt, Vanadium, Carbon, Manganese, Nickel, Lithium

Corrosion protection = Zinc, Molybdenum, Copper, Silicon

Blades = Aluminium

30. Space travel

Shuttle body = Aluminium, Titanium

Rocket engines = Copper, Niobium

Thermal protection = Silicon, Tungsten, Carbon, Tantalum

Control system = Silicon, Germanium

Energy source i.e. Mars Rover = Uranium

Astronaut visors, Radiation reflector = Gold

Optics = Cerium

Source: Minerals Council of Australia

Originally published as Future Qld Resources: 30 everyday things made possible by mining