From the days of antiquity, copper has been used for its many benefits: tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity.
Deposited millions of years ago, borates are crystallised salts that contain boron, which is essential to plant growth, but it is also used in high tech applications.
Salt is essential for human life. The majority of the salt we produce is used by the chemical industry, where it helps make materials like glass, paper, plastics, textiles and even soaps and detergents.