Royal Society of Chemistry

Table 1.3

Factsheet of magnesium as a resource. (Data: US Geological Survey²⁸)

Properties:

Chemical element “Mg”, with atomic number 12
Silvery light metal with a density of only 1.7 g cm⁻³
The lightest metallic material
Mg is corrosion resistant, resistant against acids, tough and ductile
The metal burns at 650 °C with a white, very light flame. It also burns under water

Use:

Aluminium–magnesium alloys (43%)
Die casts (37%)
Desulfurization- and deoxidation-additive in steel- and cast iron production (10%)
Production of fire resistant materials (10%)

Largest producers of magnesium:

China (68.6%)
Turkey (10.1%)
Russia (4.9%)
Austria (2.7%)
Slovakia (2.2%)
Spain (2.2%)

Available reserves:

8.5 Mio. Tons

Available resources:

>12 Bio. Tons

Statistical lifetime of reserves:

306 years

Statistical lifetime of resources:

433 212 years

Recycling rate:

In Germany 50% of the magnesium is recycled, worldwide 15–20%.

Annual global production of magnesium:

27 700 Mio. Tons

Properties:	Chemical element “Mg”, with atomic number 12 Silvery light metal with a density of only 1.7 g cm⁻³ The lightest metallic material Mg is corrosion resistant, resistant against acids, tough and ductile The metal burns at 650 °C with a white, very light flame. It also burns under water
Use:	Aluminium–magnesium alloys (43%) Die casts (37%) Desulfurization- and deoxidation-additive in steel- and cast iron production (10%) Production of fire resistant materials (10%)
Largest producers of magnesium:	China (68.6%) Turkey (10.1%) Russia (4.9%) Austria (2.7%) Slovakia (2.2%) Spain (2.2%)
Available reserves:	8.5 Mio. Tons
Available resources:	>12 Bio. Tons
Statistical lifetime of reserves:	306 years
Statistical lifetime of resources:	433 212 years
Recycling rate:	In Germany 50% of the magnesium is recycled, worldwide 15–20%.
Annual global production of magnesium:	27 700 Mio. Tons