Mineral resource of the month: tin
Earth
By: James F. Carlin Jr.
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Abstract
Tin was one of the earliest-known metals. Because of its hardening effect on copper, tin was used in bronze implements as early as 3500 B.C. Bronze, a copper-tin alloy that can be sharpened and is hard enough to retain a cutting edge, was used during the Bronze Age in construction tools as well as weapons for hunting and war. The geographical separation between tin-producing and tin-consuming nations greatly influenced the patterns of early trade routes. Historians think that as early as 1500 B.C., Phoenicians traveled by sea to the Cornwall district of England to obtain tin. The pure metal was not used unalloyed until about 600 B.C.
Suggested Citation
Carlin, J.F., 2011, Mineral resource of the month: tin: Earth, v. 56, no. 11, p. 21-21.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Mineral resource of the month: tin |
| Series title | Earth |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Geosciences Institute |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | National Minerals Information Center |
| Description | 1 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Earth |
| First page | 21 |
| Last page | 21 |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |