Tin (Sn)

Tin metal ingot - one troy ounce - .9999 bullion     Derived from the Latin name stannum, tin has been known since the Bronze Age for its hardening effect on copper. It is thought that pure metallic tin was smelted from the ore cassiterite as early as 600 BC. Tin is a malleable, ductile, corrosion resistant, low melting point, crystalline, silvery white metal with superconducting properties. Tin is the dominant alloy component in pewter which has been used to make flatware since the Bronze Age. Tin can also be highly polished and used as a corrosion resistant coating for other metals. Its early use in cans has long since been replaced by much cheaper steel. Tin has a myriad of industrial uses including in alloys, solders, window-making, batteries, chemical processes, and superconducting magnets. Tin is rare in the earths crust with an estimated prevalence of 2 parts per million. Southeast Asia and South America account for the majority of the world's mineable supply which has been est