Aluminium

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Aluminium (often called Aluminum in North America) is a metal that is silvery white in colour. It is the most common metallic element in the Earth's crust, but not in a workable state (as it must be refined). It is named from the Latin Alumen by the discoverer of its pure form in the 19th century and has been given the atomic symbol Al.

Lighter than iron and not prone to corrosion, aluminium is often used in modern industry. When aluminium oxides it produces a fine powder coating on the surface of the metal. Due to mild toxicity it is not recommended for cookware.

It is difficult to extract from its ore (bauxite) and thus was not used during the middle ages. However, aluminium salts were used as mordants by the Greeks and the Romans.

Aluminium in the SCA

In the SCA aircraft-grade aluminium is used for making some forms of armour, being stronger and less pliable than ordinary aluminium.