Molybdenum APEX Mineral

Molybdenum (Mo #42) is the next element on the periodic table for my APEX mineral collection.   

Wikipedia Molybdenum

Molybdenum Minerals - There are many Molybdenum minerals.

Molybdenite (MoS2) with 60% Molybdenum is the best choice for APEX Mineral.

The world's production of Molybdenum was 250,000 tonnes in 2011.  It is often substituted for Tungsten since it has similar properties and a more reliable supply.

Molybdenum is one of the 5 Refractory metals.  

• Melting point above 2000 °C
• High hardness at room temperature 
• Chemically inert 
• High density
• Powder metallurgy instead of machining to create manufactured parts

Molybdenite mineral was often used (and confused with Graphite) as a dark writing tool.  Molybdenum as an element was unknown until the 19th century.

Molybdenum is primarily used in steel alloys, including high strength alloys and superalloys.

Molybdenum is a required element for life in all higher organisms (eukaryotes), though not in all bacteria.  Molybdenum enzymes are the most common catalysts to change atmospheric Nitrogen into useful compounds.  Molybdenum powder is used as a fertilizer for some plants, such as cauliflower.