Aluminium is more abundant metal in Earth's crust than iron, but iron is less expensive. Explain?

Question

Aluminium is more abundant metal in Earth's crust than iron, but iron is less expensive. Explain?

Answer 1

its supply and demand.  its cheaper because there is more of it available.  and its also easier/better to to use for several different applications.  its lighter too

Answer 2

Aluminium is more useful...

Answer 3

Refining aluminum from ore is much more expensive, especially in terms of energy.

Answer 4

First, I am not sure that is true.  Humans figured out how smelt iron from minerals a long time ago compared to Al. Fe is not found as metal in the earth's crust (although there is metallic Fe in meterorites).   Al is more plentiful because it is found in most rocks.  Of all the minerals that contain Al, only a few are rich enough in Al to be worthwhile mining.  There are a number of Fe minerals that are economically mined.  Al refining is very energy intensive (before Hall - Herolt developed the refining technology that is used world wide for Al refining, Al was more expensive than silver (emperor Napoleon had Silver ware, Gold ware, and for very special occasions, Al ware).  Regarding iron,  it is very plentiful and is produced in a huge range of alloys with an even larger range of physical properties.  Some steels are way more expensive than Al alloys.  Some steels are used routinely at temperatures where Al would be molten.