Tin (Sn) Metal, Atomic Number 50

Tin is used in the manufacture of solder for electronics and a variety of metal alloys. It is a significant component of pewter and bronze, for example. It has also found more use in manufacture of plastics and fire retardants. The largest producer of tin, by far, is Indonesia. In the past, the instability of this region has led to price spikes in Tin. Essentially no tin is mined or smelted in North or Central America. With a global commodity boom underway, tin represents an affordable and highly useful metal that is sure to only become more scarce in the years ahead. Tin's value is about 3-5x that of base metals such as zinc, lead, and copper, yet it is much cheaper than precious metals such as silver, gold, and platinum.  Hence, tin is a semi-precious metal, with a precarious global supply that could lead to increased values in the years ahead. 

Individual investors looking for a unique investment to diversify their holdings may wish to consider purchasing semi-previous metals such as tin. I have research tin extensively for investment purposes, and have found it very difficult to obtain small quantities available for sale to small investors. Tin ingots can occasionally be found in small one to four pound sizes. These represent a chance to acquire a very pure and attractive metal in quantities affordable to all investors. There is nothing quite like the feeling of a heavy piece of pure metal in your hand. As the US dollar declines in value and inflation worsens and as global environmental concerns make mining and smelting more difficult, pure metals like this will become highly sought after. Pure commodities such as this will always have a role in our society as a means of commercial production.