Chromium

Chromium is considered a valuable metal for plating as well as a metal. The only known of ore is the mineral, chromite. This has been found in different states within the U.S. such as California, New York, North Carolina, and Maryland. It has a crystalline structure and can be a little bit magnetic at times. Within the United States it is usually found to be associated with serpentine however these deposits are usually little. It can also occur in altered basic rocks and has been located as placer deposits in serpentine areas. The good chromite crystals are not easy to find and are in fact so rare that they are in big demand by collectors. The luster of chromium is resinous, it has a hardness of 5.5, and its specific gravity is of 4.6.

Chromium has a broad range of uses in metals, chemicals, and refractories and it is one of the most important strategic and critical materials within the United States. Chromium use in iron, steel, and nonferrous alloys adds to hardenability and resistance to corrosion and oxidation. The use of chromium to make stainless steel and nonferrous alloys are two of its most significant uses. Other uses of chromium are in alloy steel, plating of metals, pigments, leather processing, catalysts, surface treatments, and refractories.