Types of Metals

 Geochemical considerations

It is traditional in the mining industry to divide metals into groups with special names. These are as follows:

1 precious metals-gold, silver, platinum group (PGM);

2 non-ferrous metals-copper, lead, zinc, tin, aluminium (the first four being commonly known as base metals);

3 iron and ferroalloy metals-iron, manganese, nickel, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, vanadium, cobalt;

4 minor metals and related non-metals-antimony, arsenic, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, magnesium, mercury, REE, selenium, tantalum, tellurium, titanium, zirconium, etc.;

5 fissionable metals-uranium, thorium (radium).