Definitely not an Aurora expert here, but I thought I could offer something that might help newer players. If you're like me, one of the more intimidating aspects of the game is the variety of trans-newtonian minerals (TNMs) and all their uses. It took me way too long to learn what each one was for, and how important each was (and then things got switched up a bit when we moved to C#, but that's a whole other thing).
I wanted to share the uses of each mineral (both the ones that make sense with their theme and the ones that are a bit unusual) and how I remember them. If I get something wrong here, please let me know and I'll edit this post (especially the mnemonics).
DuraniumMnemonic - "Durable"
Uses - Almost everything; getting low on Duranium is one of the most crippling shortages in Aurora
All Uses - Installations
Cargo Shuttle Station
Construction Factory
Deep Space Tracking Station
Forced Labor Construction Camp
Forced Labor Mining Camp
Genetic Modification Center
Ground Force Construction Complex
Infrastructure
Low-Gravity Infrastructure
Maintenance Facility
Mass Driver
Military Academy
Ordnance Transfer Station
Refuelling Station
Research Facility
Shipyard Complex
Spaceport
Terraforming Installation
Components
Cargo Holds
Cargo Shuttle Bay
Command and Control
Crew Quarters
Cryogenic Transport
Damage Control
Engineering Spaces
Fuel Storage
Hangar Deck
High-Powered Microwave
Jump Drive
Jump Point Stabilization Module
Laser
Luxury Passenger Accomodation
Magazine
Maintenance Storage/Module
Meson Cannon
Orbital Habitat Module
Ordnance Transfer Hub/System
Particle Beam/Lance
Plasma Carronade
Railgun
Recreational Module
Refuelling Hub/System
Salvage Module
Sorium Harvester
Terraforming Module
Tractor Beam
Troop Transport
Turrets
Other
Maintenance Supplies
NeutroniumMnemonic - "Neutron star," the densest substance known to man
Uses - Heavy industry like shipyards, construction, maintenance, mass drivers
Unusual Uses - Damage control, railguns, and troop transport components
All Uses - Installations
Construction Factory
Forced Labor Construction Camp
Ground Force Construction Complex
Maintenance Facility
Mass Driver
Shipyard Complex
Components
Damage Control
Maintenance Storage/Module
Railgun
Troop Transport
CorbomiteMnemonic - "Cordon right," someone setting up cordons to direct crowds at an event
Uses - Installations and components that control the flow of resources: cargo, finances, command and control, cloaking and ECM/ECCM, etc.
Unusual Uses - Genetic modification centers, shields
All Uses - Cargo Shuttle Station
Financial Center
Genetic Modification Center
Military Academy
Spaceport
Components
Cloaking Device
Command and Control
Diplomacy Module
ECM/ECCM
Salvage Module
Shields
TritaniumMnemonic - "Trident," a thrown three-pronged spear for fishing
Uses - Missiles
Unusual Uses - Military academies and recreational modules (what do these people do for fun???)
All Uses - Installations
Military Academy
Ordnance Factory
Components
Magazine
Recreational Module
Other
Ordnance
BoronideMnemonic - "Turn on"
Uses - Anything that involves a lot of power; terraforming, spaceports, cargo/fuel/ordnance stations, energy weapons, power plants
Unusual Uses - Naval headquarters and sector command, fuel storage, recreational module (again, what're they doing in there??)
All Uses - Installations
Cargo Shuttle Station
Fuel Refinery
Genetic Modification Center
Low-Gravity Infrastructure
Mass Driver
Naval Headquarters
Ordnance Transfer Station
Refuelling Station
Sector Command
Spaceport
Terraforming Installation
Components
Plasma Carronade
Fuel Storage
Microwave
Jump Point Stabilization Module
Laser
Meson Cannon
Orbital Habitat Module
Ordnance Transfer Hub/System
Particle Beam/Lance
Power Plant
Railgun
Recreational Module
Refuelling Hub/System
Salvage Module
Sorium Harvester
Terraforming Module
MercassiumMnemonic - "Your catch? Yum!" Terrible, but meant to sound like people enjoying the rewards of a fishing trip
Uses - Life support and biology, such as infrastructure, genetic modification centers, research facilities, cryogenic transports, crew quarters, etc.
Unusual Uses - Tractor beams, sector commands
All Uses - Installations
Cargo Shuttle Station
Genetic Modification Center
Infrastructure
Low-Gravity Infrastructure
Naval Headquarters
Research Facility
Sector Command
Spaceport
Components
Crew Quarters
Cryogenic Transport
Diplomacy Module
Luxury Passenger Accomodation
Orbital Habitat Module
Tractor Beam
Troop Transport
VendariteMnemonic - "De
fender," a guardian
Uses - Fighter and ground unit production (as well as other small trans-newtonian vehicles, like cargo shuttles)
Unusual Uses - Gauss cannon
All Uses - Installations
Fighter Factory
Components
Cargo Shuttle Bay
Hangar Deck
Gauss Cannon
SoriumMnemonic - "Soaring"
Uses - Starship fuel and jump technology
All Uses - Components
Jump Drive
Jump Point Stabilization Module
Other
Fuel
UridiumMnemonic - "You reading 'em?," a sensors officer surprised at what he's seeing
Uses - All sensors, including those for scanning the interior of one's ship (damage control) and deep space (tracking stations, military commands, naval HQs, diplomacy modules)
Unusual Uses - Maintenance supplies
All Uses - Installations
Deep Space Tracking Station
Military Academy
Naval Headquarters
Sector Command
Spaceport
Components
Active Sensors
Beam Fire Control
Damage Control
Diplomacy Module
ELINT Module
EM Sensor
Geo/Grav Survey Sensors
Missile Fire Control
Thermal Sensor
Other
Maintenance Supplies
CorundiumMnemonic - "Core under 'em"
Uses - Mining installations/modules and energy weapons (suggesting that mining in Aurora is done with energy tech)
Unusual Uses - Military academy
All Uses - Installations
Mines (and Automated)
Forced Labor Mining Camp
Military Academy
Components
Plasma Carronade
Microwave
Laser
Meson Cannon
Orbital Mining Module
Particle Beam/Lance
GalliciteMnemonic - "Gallop," like horsepower
Uses - Engines for both ships and missiles
Unusual Uses - Maintenance supplies
All Uses - Components
Engines
Other
Ordnance (engines)
Maintenance Supplies
Parting note: While using Duranium, Uridium, and Gallicite for maintenance supplies technically ignores many of the minerals involved in ship construction, it still makes sense because they're the most common minerals used. It's simplified to preserve sanity.
And there we go! Please let me know if I got anything wrong or if you have a better idea for anything.