Editing Metal (section)

===Prehistory===
Copper, which occurs in native form, may have been the first metal discovered given its distinctive appearance, heaviness, and malleability. Gold, silver, iron (as meteoric iron), and lead were likewise discovered in prehistory. Forms of [[brass]], an alloy of copper and zinc made by concurrently smelting the ores of these metals, originate from this period (although pure zinc was not isolated until the 13th century). The malleability of the solid metals led to the first attempts to craft metal ornaments, tools, and weapons. Meteoric iron containing nickel was discovered from time to time and, in some respects this was superior to any industrial steel manufactured up to the 1880s when alloy steels become prominent.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reardon |first=Arthur C. |url=https://www.asminternational.org/documents/10192/3212401/05306G_Sample_BuyNow.pdf/ab60c086-2c71-4de0-91f6-aad1112cf4dc |title=Metallurgy for the non-metallurgist |date=2011 |publisher=ASM International |isbn=978-1-61503-845-9 |location=Materials Park, Ohio |pages=73–84 |oclc=780082219}}</ref>

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File:NatCopper.jpg|[[Native metal#Copper|Native copper]]
File:Gold-crystals.jpg|Gold crystals
File:Silver crystal.jpg|Crystalline silver
File:Widmanstatten hand.jpg|A slice of meteoric iron
File:Lead electrolytic and 1cm3 cube.jpg|alt=Three, dark broccoli shaped clumps of oxidised lead with grossly distended buds, and a cube of lead which has a dull silvery appearance.|<div align="center">[[redox|oxidised]] [[lead]]<br />nodules and 1&nbsp;cm<sup>3</sup> cube</div>
File:Akan MHNT.AC.AF.29.jpg|A brass weight (35 g)
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