Tag: Steel alloys

Over two billion years ago, oxygen released by photosynthetic organisms combined with dissolved iron in the oceans, leading to the formation of massive banded iron formations containing key iron ores. Understanding what mineral pairs with iron depends greatly on whether the context is geological, biological, or industrial.

Over 90% of the world's vanadium is historically used to strengthen steel alloys, yet its role in large-scale energy storage is rapidly becoming its most crucial application for a sustainable future. This once little-known element is now central to many modern technological advancements.

As an essential trace element for virtually all life forms, molybdenum functions as a vital cofactor for enzymes that drive fundamental chemical transformations in global metabolic cycles. The diverse role of molybdenum, ranging from enabling biological processes to enhancing industrial materials, showcases its surprising importance far beyond its scarce presence in nature.