USES OF MINERALS
Most products are either grown or mined. Natural
resources are important for any nation to develop. Money will buy
products, but what does the money really represent? Money has to somehow
reflect the wealth of a country, which at one time was based on the
amount of "gold" a nation has stored away. Gold, a mineral,
was that important! However today wealth of a nation is more complicated
based on other resources and economic indicators.
Minerals have always been important because they
create products. Even in very early societies in Egypt (Africa) and Inca
(South America), the amount of jewels and gold indicated the wealth of
that society. People invaded other countries to take their mineral
Minerals are indeed useful, but they have also
caused wars and instability in different regions. Letís look at some
of the common uses of minerals today.