I stand corrected.

I should have said that the oxide layer is often so thin that for most electrical applications an alu element with alu-oxide on the outside (anodised) can be considered to be a well conducting element. Hence the need to avoid touching any powercables and the reason why 2/3rd of all wiring in the world is made of aluminium threads. These wires conduct very well, are very bendy, are lightweight and are very cheap when compared to copper.

Of course bare aluminium will form its own alu-oxide layer on the outside in mere seconds to minutes. It is practically impossible to have pure (non-oxidized) aluminium outside of the lab (shielded from oxigen).

Wouter