base metals
Iron, copper, zinc
Base metals are common, relatively inexpensive metals that oxidize or corrode easily—iron, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and aluminum.
The term distinguishes them from precious metals like gold and silver, which resist corrosion.
In alchemy, base metals were the starting materials alchemists hoped to transmute into gold.
The company mines base metals in Chile.
Reddish-brown metallic element
aluminum · nickel · cobalt · manganese · chromium · cadmium · antimony · bismuth
Copper-zinc metal mixture
- bronzeCopper-tin alloy
- pewterTin-based tableware alloy
- solderFusible bonding alloy
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
gunmetal · white metal · pot metal · pinchbeck · babbitt · type metal · die-cast
Extracting metal from ore
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- extractionAct of removing
- miningExtracting earth's resources
foundry · galvanizing · electrolysis · furnace · slag · ingot · billet · casting
Complete change of form
- goldElement seventy-nine
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- impureNot wholly clean
- corruptibleAble to be bought
oxidation · tarnish · ignoble · transformation · purification · refining
Salvage lot for vehicles
- scrap metalDiscarded reusable iron and steel
- salvageRecovering damaged goods
- reclaimTake back possession
- reprocessingHandling material again
recovery · e-waste · smelter · shredding · sorting · baling · commodity · trade
Steel strengthening concrete
- girderMain structural support beam
- beamStructural support member
- trussLoad-bearing beam arrangement
- joistHorizontal structural beam
framework · scaffolding · cladding · piling · bolt · rivet · welding · fabrication
Installed electrical conductors
- circuitryInterconnected electronic components
- electricalInvolving conducted current
- thermalPertaining to warmth
- currentDirected flow of charge
resistance · electrodes · grounding · contacts · terminals · plating · shielding · heat sink
copper
Reddish-brown metallic element
iron · aluminum · nickel · cobalt · manganese · chromium · cadmium · antimony · bismuth · mercury
brass
Copper-zinc metal mixture
steel · gunmetal · white metal · pot metal · pinchbeck · babbitt · type metal · die-cast
smelting
Extracting metal from ore
- refineryIndustrial purification facility
- oreMetal-bearing rock
- extractionAct of removing
mining · foundry · galvanizing · electrolysis · furnace · slag · ingot · billet · casting · forging
transmutation
Complete change of form
- goldElement seventy-nine
- philosopher's stoneLegendary substance enabling transmutation
- impureNot wholly clean
corruptible · oxidation · tarnish · ignoble · transformation · purification · refining
scrapyard
Salvage lot for vehicles
- scrap metalDiscarded reusable iron and steel
- salvageRecovering damaged goods
- reclaimTake back possession
reprocessing · recovery · e-waste · smelter · shredding · sorting · baling · commodity · trade · export
rebar
Steel strengthening concrete
joist · framework · scaffolding · cladding · piling · bolt · rivet · welding · fabrication · column
wiring
Installed electrical conductors
- circuitryInterconnected electronic components
- electricalInvolving conducted current
- thermalPertaining to warmth
current · resistance · electrodes · grounding · contacts · terminals · plating · shielding · heat sink · soldering
- materialsmetal, wood, ceramic, fabric, polymers
- industrial materialsaluminum, plastics, chemicals, lumber, cement
- US Mininggold mining, silver mining, copper mining, coal miner, iron mining
- commoditiesgold, silver, oil, crude oil, natural gas
- jewelry suppliesrhinestones, glass beads, plastic beads, faux pearls, cubic zirconia
- mineral tradegold trade, rare earths, diamond trade, coal exports, salt trade
base metalsprecious metals
Rare, valuable metallic elements
noble metals · gold · silver · platinum · bullion
base, metals, metallic, debase, baseless, abase, basal, debasement, abasement