Metals have been used for over 8000 years to make tools, jewellery, and essential daily goods. People progressed from hammering copper and gold nuggets into shape, to use moulds to make tools, weapons and other objects from molten metal. Metals have now been developed to carry electricity, and to construct rockets.

Metals such as gold, copper and platinum are found in the ground as pure metals. However, most are found with other substances, in rocks called ores.

Currently there is no important metal in danger of being exhausted. However lead, tin, tungsten and zinc will soon be in short supply. This is in spite of efficient recovery and recycling methods.

Recycling can extend the life of the earth's metals. But it can only slow down the rate at which reserves are depleted. It is also only suitable for pure metals and not for alloys which are mixes of metals such as brass.