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Message: <blockquote data-quote="aramis erak" data-source="post: 9074462" data-attributes="member: 6779310">Generally, metals value in relation to each other are roughly the inverse of the square of the ratio.Gold is workable by simple hand tools of stone, and can be found in metallic form. It's the only metal I know of which requires no smelting from its found form. There are gold-bearing ores, too...  but Gold is the oldest useful metal I'm aware of.. It's also tarnish resistant.Copper is next to be known. It can be refined with wood fire, but only just. It's ductile, plentiful, at least once the ore  is known. It makes decent, if soft, tools. Most copper ores need better than large campfire, but any pottery kiln can be a smelter for certain ones. It can be cold worked and hot worked. The issue is making the raw metal... once you have it, it's recycled readily. Plus, it's the main ingredient of both brass and bronze.Silver: harder than copper, whiter than gold, more abundant than gold, can be cast, can be drawn to wire, can be hammered into sheets, can be lathed from sheet into cups and bowls. (This is actually still done in India)Lead: readily able to be used as a solder, and as a sweetener. Sure, it will drive you mad, but at least it won't make you fat. Further, the ease of recycling and the high density (11.3 g/cm³) make it a decent bullet.Crystal - as in lead crystal - is notable because of its particular refractive index, durability, and ability to be wet-cut with a wet-rotating blade. Plus, it makes fine handbells and flutes (both the musical and drinking vessel kinds)... Crystals, as in minerals, are pretty. Some, like ruby, saphire, and diamond, are particularly useful for their hardness and particularly pretty for their intense reflections when cut. Mithril and Adamantium are fantasy metals... Mithril is from Tolkien -- "true-silver" -- better protection and lower weight than steel, while staying prettier. I'm not enough schooled in metalurgy to be more than a guess, but in my games, it's platinum. Harder, but more brittle and less ductile, than steel. For flexible armors, that makes it superior.Adamantium? that's from Marvel Comics. Seriously. The name derives from the English «adamant», meaning unyielding. A metal that's hard, but not brittle? Superb!</blockquote>

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