Tin
TIN (בָּדִיל, H975), a metal that has a bright white color and is easily fusible with a melting point of 232oC. The metal is not very ductile, but is very malleable and can be rolled into foil. Tin is only rarely found in the native state, the main ore being cassiterite (tin dioxide) which occurs in veins associated with granitic rocks, as in Cornwall, and as alluvial deposits resulting from the degradation of cassiteritebearing veins.
Articles of tin were used in Egypt at least as early as 1400 b.c. and from c. 3700 b.c. onward, tin has been alloyed with copper to give bronze (q.v.), with trade in Cyprus copper and Cornish tin being carried on by the Phoenicians (cf. Ezek 27:12). Tin also forms alloys with silver (cf. Ezek 22:18) and forced draught is employed in metallurgical processes associated with its extraction and alloying (cf. Ezek 22:20).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
Tin is mentioned with brass, iron and lead in Nu 31:22; Eze 22:18,20. Ezekiel mentions tin along with silver, iron and lead as being imported into Tyre from Tarshish (see Metals ). The tin must have been brought in the form of ore and smelted in Syria. The writer has some slag dug from a deposit near Beirut which yielded nearly pure tin. It was probably the site of an ancient smelter’s shop.