Aluminum
Main Uses: Electrical transmission lines, vehicles, packaging, and a variety of construction materials.
U.S. Main Source(s): Imported from Canada, China, Mexico, UAE, and South Korea.
Domestic Production Capability: The U.S. has significant bauxite reserves and produces aluminum domestically but still relies on imports to meet total demand.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Antimony
Main Uses: Batteries, flame retardant material,
solders and alloys, ceramics and paints.
U.S. Main Source(s): China, India, Oman,
UK and Vietnam.
Domestic Production Capability: Primarily found in
western states such as Montana, Alaska, and Idaho.
[Photo: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Arsenic
Main Uses: Wood preservatives,
pesticides, ammunition, adhesives,
medicines.
U.S. Main Source(s): China and Morocco.
Domestic Production Capability: No domestic
production since 1985, mostly imported from
China.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Barite
Main Uses: Radiation shielding, petroleum drilling, construction
materials.
U.S. Main Source(s): China, India, Morocco, Mexico
Domestic Production Capability: Primarily drilled out of Nevada by three companies.
[Photo Credit: http://www.goodfreephotos.com/]
Beryllium
Main Uses: Air and space vehicles, nuclear
technology, transistors, dental bridges.
U.S. Main Source(s): Brazil, China, Madagascar,
Mozambique, Portugal.
Domestic Production Capability: The US solely mines
Bertrandite ore out of Utah, and relies on imports for the
rest.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Bismuth (Bi)
Main Uses: Various pharmaceutical applications, electrical solders,
semiconductors.
U.S. Main Source(s): China, South Korea, Peru, Mexico, Japan.
Domestic Production Capability: US ceased most bismuth refinement in 1997 and primarily relies on imports now.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Cerium
Main Uses: Electronics, optics, lighting, alloys, and steel production.
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Cesium
Main Uses: Clocks, vacuum tubes, medical radiation, cancer
treatments, glass, pyrotechnics.
U.S. Main Source(s): Canada, China, Germany, Russia.
Domestic Production Capability: The US imports 100% of its Cesium.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Chromium
Main Uses: Diabetes and cardiovascular treatments, school
buses, metals.
U.S. Main Source(s): South Africa, Brazil, Italy, Germany, the
Netherlands.
Domestic Production Capability: The US recovers Chromium from
recyclables, but primarily imports from South Africa.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Cobalt
Main Uses: Rechargeable batteries, super alloys, catalysts.
U.S. Main Source(s): Imported from the Democratic Republic of Congo and refined in China.
Domestic Production Capability: Limited domestic production, efforts are underway to develop domestic sources.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Copper
Main Uses: Electrical wiring, electronics, power generation and transmission
U.S. Main Source(s): Imported from Chile, Canada, and Mexico
Domestic Production Capability: The U.S. is a significant producer of copper, with substantial mining operations in states like Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Dysprosium
Main Uses: Permanent magnets in wind turbines and electric vehicles
U.S. Main Source(s): Mainly sourced from China
Domestic Production Capability: No significant domestic production; the U.S. depends on imports, primarily from China, for dysprosium.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory
Erbium
Main Uses: Reactor control rods, laser devices, eyewear, metal alloys, jewelry
U.S. Main Source(s): Mainly imported from China
Domestic Production Capability: The amount produced by the US is negligible to the amount imported from China
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Europium
Main Uses: Televisions, quantum memory chips, biomaterials, nuclear reactors
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Fluorspar (Fluorine)
Main Uses: Steel, refrigeration and air conditioning, glass, oil refining.
U.S. Main Source(s): Mostly brought in from Mexico. China and Vietnam import in a smaller amount.
Domestic Production Capability: The US has started to produce its own fluorspar and move away from importing it.
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Gadolinium
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit:
Gallium
Main Uses: Semiconductors, LEDs, and solar cells
U.S. Main Source(s): China, Germany, and Ukraine
Domestic Production Capability: The US has no primary
production of Gallium, it relies entirely on imports and material
scrapping
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Germanium
Main Uses: Fiber and infrared
optics, night vision
devices, and solar cells
U.S. Main Source(s): China, Belgium,
Germany, and Russia
Domestic Production Capability: The US has started
mining Germanium in various states in an effort to move
away from importation
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Graphite
Main Uses: Batteries, fuel cells, and lubricants
U.S. Main Source(s): China, Brazil, and Canada
Domestic Production Capability: US does not
produce natural graphite, only a synthetic, which is
more costly
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Hafnium
Main Uses: Ceramics, nuclear control rods, and metallurgy
U.S. Main Source(s): Mainly from Germany, with France, China and Russia importing as well
Domestic Production Capability: Small amounts are mined in the US, but most is imported
[Photo Credit: https://images-of-elements.com/hafnium.php ]
Holmium
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: ]
Indium
Main Uses: Electronics, semiconductors, alloys, and batteries
U.S. Main Source(s): South Korea, Japan, Canada
Domestic Production Capability: Never mined in US, it is completely imported
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Iridium
Main Uses: Spark plugs, electrical components, and cancer treatments
U.S. Main Source(s): South Africa, UK, Germany, and Singapore
Domestic Production Capability: The US has recently started a larger effort to produce iridium domestically
[Photo Credit: https://images-of-elements.com/hafnium.php ]
Lanthanum
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Lithium
Main Uses: Batteries, portable electronics, electric vehicles
U.S. Main Source(s): Argentina, Chile, and China
Domestic Production Capability: The US has limited domestic production, primarily in Nevada, but efforts are underway to expand
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Lutetium
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Manganese
Main Uses: Health treatments, dietary supplements, construction
U.S. Main Source(s): Gabon, South Africa, Mexico
Domestic Production Capability: The US produces small amounts of ore, but mostly imports it
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Magnesium
Main Uses: Health treatments
U.S. Main Source(s): China, Mexico, Israel
Domestic Production Capability: The US derives magnesium from its salt water. Most of it is obtained domestically
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Neodymium
Main Uses:
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Nickel
Main Uses: Alloys and steels, electroplating
U.S. Main Source(s): Canada, Norway and Finland
Domestic Production Capability: Produced largely in the US
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Niobium
Main Uses: Steels and superalloys
U.S. Main Source(s): Australia, the Congo, Rwanda, and Mozambique
Domestic Production Capability: Has not been mined domestically since 1959
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Palladium
Main Uses: Computer discs, internal circuits, lab equipment
Main Uses: Russia, South Africa, and Italy
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability: The US is a major exporter of platinum, exporting more than they import
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Platinum
Main Uses: Jewelry, electronics, automotive parts
U.S. Main Source(s): South Africa, Germany, and Russia
Domestic Production Capability: The US is a major exporter of platinum, exporting more than they import
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Praseodymium
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Promethium
Main Uses:
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
[Photo Credit: Promethium Rare-Earth Metal - Pm Chemical Element Atomic Number 61 ]
Rhodium
Main Uses: Catalytic Converters
U.S. Main Source(s): UAE
Domestic Production Capability: US is a large exporter of Rhodium
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Rubidium
Main Uses: Quantum mechanics-based computing devices, electrical signal generators
U.S. Main Source(s): China, Germany, and Russia
Domestic Production Capability: No domestic production, yet there are rubidium bearing minerals in the US
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Ruthenium
Main Uses: Catalyst in chemical production, specifically chlorine, semiconductors
Main Uses: South Africa and Russia
U.S. Main Source(s): Produced by two companies in the US, but largely imported from South Africa
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Samarium
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Scandium
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Tantalum
Main Uses: Alloys, capacitors, medical implants
Main Uses: Australia, China, Indonesia, and Germany
U.S. Main Source(s): Not mined in the US since 1959
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Tellurium
Main Uses: Solar panels, synthetic fibers, thermoelectric devices
U.S. Main Source(s): Canada, Germany, and the Philippines
Domestic Production Capability: The US does produce it, though the quantity is unknown
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Terbium
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Thulium
Main Uses:
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Tin
Main Uses: Alloys, solder, and a variety of chemicals
U.S. Main Source(s): Imported from Peru, Bolivia, Indonesia and Malaysia
Domestic Production Capability: Has not been mined or smelted in the US since 1993
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Titanium
Main Uses: Welding rods and metals
U.S. Main Source(s): South Africa, Madagascar, and Australia
Domestic Production Capability: Small amount produced in US, largely imported
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Tungsten
Main Uses: Construction materials, oil and gas drilling, wires, electrical components
Main Uses: China, Germany, Bolivia, and Vietnam
U.S. Main Source(s): Not mined in the US since 2015, yet many companies have the ability to convert concentrates
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Vanadium
Main Uses: Iron and steel alloys, sulfuric acid
U.S. Main Source(s): Canada and Brazil
Domestic Production Capability: US production ceased in 2020 and has not resumed since
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Ytterbium
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
Domestic Production Capability:
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Yttrium
Main Uses:
Main Uses:
U.S. Main Source(s):
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]
Zinc
Main Uses: Galvanized steel, alloys, brass, bronze
U.S. Main Source(s): South Africa, Australia, and Senegal
Domestic Production Capability: Domestic production is on the rise in Utah and Oregon
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory ]
Zirconium
Main Uses: Nuclear reactors, ceramics, foundry sand
U.S. Main Source(s): South Africa, Australia, and Senegal
Domestic Production Capability: Domestic production is on the rise in Utah and Oregon
[Photo Credit: Interactive Periodic Table of Elements - Idaho National Laboratory]