Base metals are common metals that tarnish, oxidize, or corrode relatively quickly when exposed to air or moisture. They are widely used in ...CommoditiesOilGoldMetalsCommoditiesMetalsWhatAreBaseMetals?Basemetalsarecommonmetalsthattarnish,oxidize,orcorroderelativelyquicklywhenexposedtoairormoisture.Theyarewidelyusedincommercialandindustrialapplications,suchasconstructionandmanufacturing.Basemetalsincludelead,copper,nickel,andzinc.Theyareoftenmoreabundantinnatureandsometimeseasiertomine.Thatmakesbasemetalsfarlessexpensiveforuseinmanufacturingthanpreciousmetals,suchasgold,silver,andplatinum.KeyTakeawaysBasemetalsarecommonmetalsthattarnish,oxidize,orcorroderelativelyquicklywhenexposedtoairormoisture.Basemetalsincludelead,copper,nickel,andzinc.Theyareoftenmoreabundantinnatureandsometimeseasiertomine,sotheirpricesaregenerallylowerthanpreciousmetals.Basemetalsarefrequentlyusedforindustrialpurposes.UnderstandingBaseMetalsThetermbasemetalslikelyarosebecausethesematerialsareinexpensiveandmorecommonlyfoundthanpreciousmetals,suchasgoldandplatinum.However,basemetalsareinvaluabletotheglobaleconomybecauseoftheirutilityandubiquity.Copper,forexample,isaleadingbasemetalthatisoftencalledthe"metalwithaPh.D.ineconomics"or"doctorcopper."Movementsinthepriceofcoppercanprovideinformationaboutthehealthoftheglobaleconomyduetoitswidespreaduseinconstruction.Economistssometimesusecopperpricesasaleadingindicatorofglobaleconomicgrowth.Ifthedemandforcopperisgrowingandpricesarerising,thentheglobaleconomymaybeimproving.Conversely,afallinthepriceofcoppercanprovideawarningthateconomicactivityisslowingincrucialareasoftheeconomy,suchashomebuilding.AdvantagesofBaseMetalsTheprimaryadvantageofbasemetalsisthattheyarerelativelyinexpensive.Basemetalsservemanypurposes,suchasconstruction,aswellasorbetterthanpreciousmetals.Whatismore,somebasemetalshaveuniquepropertiesthatcannotbeduplicatedbyothermetals.Forexample,nickelisoneofthemajorcomponentsofstainlesssteel.Zincgoesintogalvanizingsteelasaprotectionagainstcorr