Nowadays cell phones are ubiquitous. Everyone has one and everyone uses it all the time. But have you ever thought about what goes into making a cell phone — more specifically, the precious minerals and metals that are used to produce it? Cell phones are made with a host of rare materials that are often mined in countries all over the world. So, what’s really in your cell phone? Here are the minerals and metals that you carry with you every day.
Copper mineral used in cell phones. (Credit: Bjoern Wylezich/Shutterstock)
Bjoern Wylezich/Shutterstock
Copper is one of the oldest mined metals in the world. It’s been used for over 10,000 years. A reddish-brown color that’s malleable compared to other metals, copper is used in the circuitry of phones because it’s good at conducting electricity. It’s also the most important element used in the electronics of the phone overall since it ...
