Aluminum is common; we see it everywhere. But at a certain point in time, it was more expensive than gold. Though aluminum makes up 8% of the Earth’s crust, it doesn’t occur naturally, like gold and diamonds, on Earth in metallic form. It has to be mined from a mineral called bauxite. Through separation by electricity, factories make aluminum in the state we’re used to seeing it in today.
Aluminum is more valuable than gold for its versatile uses. It can be used for leather-tanning, fire-proofing, even in aftershave and baking powder. Aluminum an even be used as a deodorant in its crystal form.
Aluminum has a long history with science, as there are several events that mark its discovery at different points in time, but aluminum as it is known today was brought to life in a lab, by Hans Christian Oersted, in 1825. By 1855 Aluminum was considered one of the most precious metals in history, and demand went sky-high, even being worn as jewelry. There was even a point in time, when aluminum began being pressed into harder, heavier metal and made into cutlery, gold was considered second best.
But all of this changed in 1886, when a cheaper process was devised to obtain aluminum. Through electrolysis and by extracting it from bauxite, aluminum became as common as it is today, dropping its value by 80% nearly overnight.
But the properties of aluminum are still much more widespread than those of gold, and it is possible that we will see the day again when brooches of aluminum are preferred to brooches of gold.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTaGaMdKFzM
Here"s Why Aluminum is More Valuable Than Gold
