Refined tin is a soft, silvery-white metal with a characteristically low melting point and exceptional resistance to corrosion. Its primary uses are as a protective coating for steel (as in tinplate, used in food cans and containers), as a constituent of solder, and as the tin component of bronze alloys. Tin is produced in relatively modest quantities globally and commands a meaningful price premium over iron and copper. Cassiterite, its principal ore, is straightforwardly smelted but requires careful temperature management to avoid excessive oxidation loss.
