Aluminum

It's fortunate this conductive element is abundant everywhere in the universe, otherwise most human technology would have reverted back to one of those previous, awkward metal ages. Nobody wants that.

Aluminum is a relatively common mineral you will come across. All aluminium should be stockpiled as some 1st tier and many 2nd tier crafting recipes require modest amounts of raw metal. Aluminium is more abundant than titanium, so it should be used on these recipes while saving the Titanium for later 2nd tier and 3rd tier crafting.

Gathering
Mining aluminum takes slightly more time to mine using a Standard Issue Laser Pick than prior minerals. A good strategy is to wall yourself in with carried dirt prior to mining, to provide protection against most enemies that might spawn.

Amount / Dropped By

 * ~ 0-2 by Meaty Toadstool from the Protolife Biome.

Appearance
It's appearance does not change depending on the biome it is located in. It's pattern and color makes it easy to confuse with rock (particularly at night or in dark caverns) though this can be negated a little by carrying a torch since aluminium has a distinct shine.