#7: Important Rocks and Minerals of the Modern Age

[RPGnet Columns]

http://www.rpg.net/columns/therockys...ampaign7.phtml

Summary:

A look at minerals in the industrial world, and how we use them.

Go to the column for more information.

[The Illustrious Number 6]

An interesting column, though I must say I'm starting to find the lists a bit overwhelming.

One correction though: aluminum wasn't actually more expensive than gold or platinum at the time when the Washington Monument was built. It was about the price of silver. (Source: http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM...wski-9511.html) This misconception had been making the rounds through various wikipedia pages for some time.

[Jennifer]

Thanks for the heads' up... Checked a few other sources and, although "only" as costly as silver, it was still a heck of a large chunk to produce and ungodly to process.

Here's another article on the process of making aluminum back then.
http://www.main.nc.us/sams/monument.html

[The Illustrious Number 6]

No argument there.

Thanks for the link!