Elements on Earth

There is calcium in the Earth and sea in the form of calcium carbonate. Sodium exists in the form of sodium chloride, the salt in the sea and on our tables. The quantities of both calcium and sodium are so vast that these elements are considered unlimited. Some elements are mined and used in industry. Iron is the most common, followed by magnesium. There are quite small amounts of some precious metals on earth, which is why they are so valuable. For example, there are about one million tones of silver and 15,000 tonnes of gold. Elements are constantly being taken from Earth, but new discoveries are being made. We are still some way from running out of even the rarest elements. Element 98 was given the name Californium by the four scientists who discovered it in 1950. They were working at the University of California at Berkeley, and named the element for both the state and their university.