13
Al
Aluminum
post-transition
Discovered : Hans Christian Orsted, 1825. Never occurs native.
Found in : Corundum (ruby, sapphire), spinel, feldspar, bauxite.
Used for : Aerospace, packaging, construction, electrical cables.
Remarkable : The most abundant metal in the Earth's crust. When first isolated it was more expensive than gold. The Washington Monument was originally capped with aluminum.
Minerals containing Aluminum
