A
native metal is any
metal that is found in its metallic form, either pure or as an
alloy, in nature. Metals that can be found as native deposits singly and/or in alloys include
aluminium,
antimony,
arsenic,
bismuth,
cadmium,
chromium,
cobalt,
indium,
iron,
manganese,
molybdenum,
nickel,
rhenium,
selenium,
tantalum,
tellurium,
tin,
titanium,
tungsten, and
zinc, as well as two groups of metals: the gold group, and the
platinum group. The gold group consists of
gold,
copper,
lead,
aluminium,
mercury, and
silver. The platinum group consists of
platinum,
iridium,
osmium,
palladium,
rhodium, and
ruthenium. Amongst the alloys found in native state have been
brass,
bronze,
pewter,
German silver,
osmiridium,
electrum,
white gold, and silver-mercury and gold-mercury
amalgam.