Introductory Chapter: Magnesium Alloys

Abstract

Magnesium is an element constituting 2.74% of the Earth’s crust. It occurs in most countries in the form of various compounds and minerals. The most common ores are dolomites (MgCO3·CaCO3) and magnesites (MgCO3). Another mineral used for the magnesium production is carnallite. Magnesium is also included in serpentine. Oceans are a rich source of magnesium, which contain approx. 0.13% of the metal in the salt solution as MgCl2 and MgSO4. In 1808, the electrolysis of molten salts allowed Humphrey Davy, an English chemist, to extract pure active metals for the first time, including magnesium [4–6].