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Which alkaline-earth metals are most abundant in Earth’s crust?
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alkaline-earth metal
Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).
The most abundant alkaline-earth metals in Earth’s crust are calcium and magnesium.3
- Calcium: This element constitutes approximately 3.64 percent of Earth’s crust. It is widely distributed in nature, primarily as calcium carbonate in minerals such as limestone, chalk, and marble, as well as in bones and teeth.1
- Magnesium: This element makes up about 2.5 percent of Earth’s crust, making it the eighth most abundant element overall and the third most plentiful structural metal after aluminum and iron. It is found in various minerals, including magnesite and dolomite, and is also present in seawater.2
The other members of the alkaline-earth metal group—beryllium, strontium, barium, and radium—are significantly less abundant in the crust.3