Cu-Sn makes a number of alloys but the reason one of those alloys was important enough in human history that it is used as the name of the age: The Bronze Age, is actually simple. There are many places where the copper ore in the ground contains tin and the minerals can be reduced to metal in conditions achievable in a wood fire. Although native copper was available (in pretty limited quantities), there was no pure tin laying around so it is not like they developed the alloy on purpose.
[
More ]
[
Close ]
reply