Minerals in chemicals, foods and medicines Many minerals are
refined for pure chemicals for use in the chemical,
manufacturing, food and medical industries. Examples of the ways
minerals are used include: - sulfur - medicine, sulfuric acid,
match heads - magnesium - metal alloys, medicines - phosphorous
- super phosphate for agriculture - barium - medicine - fluorine
- toothpaste, smelting ores - sodium chloride - food additive -
short-lived radioactive isotopes of barium and cesium - used in
the treatment of various cancers.