Mineral commodity summaries 2022

Cover: A photomicrograph showing the four primary phases of cement: alite, belite, aluminate, and ferrite. Clinker is the primary component of cement, which in turn is the key ingredient of concrete. Concrete is a universal construction material, which is used in varying quantities in virtually every construction project in the world. The use of cement and concrete dates to ancient civilizations, and those materials are used for bridges, buildings, highways, and numerous other infrastructure projects. Cement production and consumption trends in developed countries can be useful as national economic indicators and often reflect the transition from emerging economies to industrial economies.