Editing v0.34:Metal

{{quality|Exceptional|15:17, 18 April 2011 (UTC)}}{{av}}
'''Metal''' is a [[material]] extracted from [[ore]] at a [[smelter]], turning the ore into '''bars''' of pure metal. (One [[adamantine|special metal]] becomes wafers instead of bars.) It is sometimes combined with other materials to form an '''alloy''' metal, which is also measured by the bar. An alloy usually improves on the properties of its components to give more uses or increased [[Item value|value]]. The metal bars resulting from [[smelting]] are used to make items such as [[weapon]]s, [[armor]], [[furniture]], and [[crafts]] at a [[Metalsmith's forge|forge]]. 

Smelting pure ores into the corresponding bars raises the base value from that of stone (3) to that of bars (5). This value is then multiplied against the [[value#Material multipliers|material multiplier]] of the metal to give the final value for the bar.

==Alloys==
There are only eleven pure metals in Dwarf Fortress (plus a twelfth [[Adamantine|special metal]]).  Many of these can be mixed together to create '''alloys''' of one type or another, of which there are another fourteen.  In some cases making alloys will result in an overall increase in value, or the resultant alloy will be more powerful when used to forge weapons or armor, though many alloys result in no overall increase in utility or [[Wealth|created wealth]]. (These increases in value can be compared in the "Difference" column of the below table.)

There are many uses for alloys:
* Increased performance for armor or weapons.
* Increased value (particularly when a silver-bearing ore is substituted for silver)
* Stretching your supply of scarce metals.
* Creating items with distinct colors (for instance, [[rose gold]] is [[Color scheme|magenta]]) for furniture, color-coding rooms or levers, or artistic constructions (including [[floor]] mosaics).
* Increasing [[thought|happiness]] or perceived [[room]] value for a dwarf who particularly likes a given alloy.
* Decreased [[fuel]] consumption if making the alloy directly from ores (e.g. [[bronze]] requires only one smelter task to make 8 bars from 2 ores).

The number of bars used to create an alloy always equals the number of bars produced: the number of bars input equals the number of bars of output.  However, the number of bars produced from smelting ores is four times greater (X ores in = 4X bars out).

== List of metals ==

===Pure Metals===

{{v0.31 metal table head}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Adamantine|color={{Tile|≡|3:1}}{{Tile|‼|3:3:1}}<span style="display:none">3:3:1</span>|source=[[Raw adamantine]]|notes=Can be used to forge anything except beds; <br/> Blades are 10x sharper than any other material|soliddensity=0.200|mp=25000|val=300|valinc=+50|impactyield=5.00|impactfracture=5.00|impactelasticity=0|shearyield=5000|shearfracture=5000|shearelasticity=0
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Aluminum|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=[[Native aluminum]]|notes=|soliddensity=2.70|mp=11188|val=40|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1421|shearyield=20|shearfracture=50|shearelasticity=77
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Bismuth|color={{Tile|≡|5:1}}{{Tile|‼|5:5:1}}<span style="display:none">5:5:1</span>|source=[[Bismuthinite]]|notes=Only useful for alloying into [[bismuth bronze]]|soliddensity=9.78|mp=10488|val=2|valinc=+1|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=3484|shearyield=30|shearfracture=50|shearelasticity=250
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Copper|color={{Tile|≡|6:0}}{{Tile|‼|6:4:0}}<span style="display:none">6:4:0</span>|source=[[Native copper]], [[Malachite]], [[Tetrahedrite]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.93|mp=11952|val=2|valinc=+0, +0, -1*|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=771|shearyield=70|shearfracture=220|shearelasticity=145
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Gold|color={{Tile|≡|6:1}}{{Tile|‼|6:6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=[[Native gold]]|notes=|soliddensity=19.32|mp=11915|val=30|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=50|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=185
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Iron|color={{Tile|≡|0:1}}{{Tile|‼|0:7:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Hematite]], [[Limonite]], [[Magnetite]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, picks, and [[anvil]]s|soliddensity=7.85|mp=12768|val=10|valinc=+2|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=635|shearyield=130|shearfracture=200|shearelasticity=159
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Lead|color={{Tile|≡|0:1}}{{Tile|‼|0:7:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Galena]]|notes=|soliddensity=11.34|mp=10589|val=2|valinc=-3*|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=2348|shearyield=10|shearfracture=12|shearelasticity=179
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Nickel|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=[[Garnierite]]|notes=|soliddensity=8.80|mp=12619|val=2|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=660|shearyield=20|shearfracture=160|shearelasticity=26
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Platinum|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=[[Native platinum]]|notes=|soliddensity=21.40|mp=13182|val=40|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=470|shearyield=100|shearfracture=200|shearelasticity=164
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Silver|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=[[Native silver]], [[Horn silver]],<br />[[Galena]] (50%), [[Tetrahedrite]] (20%) |notes=Can be used to forge melee weapons and ammunition|soliddensity=10.49|mp=11731|val=10|valinc=+0, +0,<br />+5*, +7*|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1080|shearyield=100|shearfracture=170|shearelasticity=333
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Tin|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=[[Cassiterite]]|notes=|soliddensity=7.28|mp=10417|val=2|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1862|shearyield=12|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=66
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Zinc|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=[[Sphalerite]]|notes=|soliddensity=7.13|mp=10755|val=2|valinc=+0|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1542|shearyield=50|shearfracture=150|shearelasticity=116
}}

|}

===Alloys===
''(Unless specified, ores of the ingredients may be used instead of bars for alloy reactions)''
{{v0.31 metal table head}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Billon|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=[[Silver]] + [[Copper]]|notes=Can be made with [[Tetrahedrite]] or [[Galena]] instead of [[Silver]] for increased value (Tetrahedrite + Tetrahedrite: +3, Copper + Tetrahedrite: +3.5, Copper + Galena: + 2.5). |soliddensity=8.93|val=6|valinc=+0|mp=11952|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=771|shearyield=70|shearfracture=220|shearelasticity=145
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Bismuth bronze|color={{Tile|≡|6:1}}{{Tile|‼|6:6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=1 [[Tin]] + 2 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Bismuth]] '''!'''|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.25|val=6|valinc=+4|mp=11868|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=137|shearfracture=241|shearelasticity=200
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Black bronze|color={{Tile|≡|5:0}}{{Tile|‼|5:6:0}}<span style="display:none">5:6:0</span>|source=2 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Silver]] + 1 [[Gold]] '''!'''|notes=Unique color|soliddensity=8.93|val=11|valinc=+0|mp=11952|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=771|shearyield=70|shearfracture=220|shearelasticity=145
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Brass|color={{Tile|≡|6:1}}{{Tile|‼|6:6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=[[Zinc]] + [[Copper]]|notes=Value difference is +4.5 if [[Tetrahedrite]] is used instead of [[Copper]]|soliddensity=8.55|val=7|valinc=+5|mp=11656|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=200|shearfracture=550|shearelasticity=200
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Bronze|color={{Tile|≡|6:0}}{{Tile|‼|6:4:0}}<span style="display:none">6:4:0</span>|source=[[Tin]] + [[Copper]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks. Value difference is +2.5 if [[Tetrahedrite]] is used instead of [[Copper]]|soliddensity=8.25|val=5|valinc=+3|mp=11868|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=137|shearfracture=241|shearelasticity=200
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Electrum|color={{Tile|≡|6:1}}{{Tile|‼|6:6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=[[Silver]] + [[Gold]]|notes=Can be made with [[Tetrahedrite]] or [[Galena]] instead of  [[Silver]] for increased value (Gold + Tetrahedrite: +3.5, Gold + Galena: +2.5).|soliddensity=8.65|val=20|valinc=+0|mp=11828|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=50|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=185
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Fine pewter|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=3 [[Tin]] + 1 [[Copper]]|notes=Value difference is +2.75 if [[Tetrahedrite]] is used instead of [[Copper]]|soliddensity=7.28|val=5|valinc=+3|mp=10417|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1862|shearyield=12|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=66
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Lay pewter|color={{Tile|≡|3:0}}{{Tile|‼|3:7:0}}<span style="display:none">3:7:0</span>|source=2 [[Tin]] + 1 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Lead]] '''!'''|notes=Unique color|soliddensity=7.28|val=3|valinc=+1|mp=10417|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1862|shearyield=12|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=66
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Nickel silver|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source= 2 [[Nickel]] + 1 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Zinc]] '''!'''|notes=|soliddensity=8.65|val=3|valinc=+1|mp=11620|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=20|shearfracture=160|shearelasticity=26
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Pig iron|color={{Tile|≡|0:1}}{{Tile|‼|0:7:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Iron]] + [[flux]] stone + [[fuel]] '''!'''|notes=Only used to make [[steel]]|soliddensity=7.85|val=10|valinc=+0|mp=12106|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=635|shearyield=130|shearfracture=200|shearelasticity=159
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Rose gold|color={{Tile|≡|5:1}}{{Tile|‼|5:5:1}}<span style="display:none">5:5:1</span>|source=3 [[Gold]] + 1 [[Copper]] '''!'''|notes=Unique color|soliddensity=19.32|val=23|valinc=+0|mp=11915|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=600|shearyield=50|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=185
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Steel|color={{Tile|≡|0:1}}{{Tile|‼|0:7:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Iron]] + [[Pig iron]] + [[flux]] stone + [[fuel]] '''!'''|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, picks, and [[anvil]]s|soliddensity=7.85|val=30|valinc=+20|mp=12718|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=675|shearyield=520|shearfracture=860|shearelasticity=500
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Sterling silver|color={{Tile|≡|7:1}}{{Tile|‼|7:7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=3 [[Silver]] + 1 [[Copper]] '''!'''|notes=|soliddensity=10.49|val=8|valinc=+0|mp=11602|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1080|shearyield=100|shearfracture=170|shearelasticity=333
}}

{{v0.31 metal table row|name=Trifle pewter|color={{Tile|≡|7:0}}{{Tile|‼|7:3:0}}<span style="display:none">7:3:0</span>|source=2 [[Tin]] + 1 [[Copper]]|notes=Value difference is +1.67 if [[Tetrahedrite]] is used instead of [[Copper]]|react=|soliddensity=7.28|val=4|valinc=+2|mp=10417|impactyield=1.08|impactfracture=1.08|impactelasticity=1862|shearyield=12|shearfracture=100|shearelasticity=66
}}

|}
''Legend:''
:* '''Tile Color''' corresponds to how items made from that metal are displayed in game, foreground and background colors.
:*'''Reaction''' indicates the basic recipe for an alloy - this does not include the [[fuel]] used in that creation.  See the article for that alloy or [[smelting]] for possible alternatives.
::'''!''' - ''You can use only [[bar]]s of metal in this reaction, not ores.
:*'''Density''' is used to determine the different weight of finished objects.
:*'''Melting point''' is used to determine if a material is [[magma-safe]] or not: magma is 12000°U.
:*'''[[Material value]]''' is what the base value of an object made of this metal is multiplied by to determine its worth.
:*'''Value difference''' indicates the difference between the average [[value]] of the required bars of metals vs. the value of the resulting bars of alloy - what went in vs. what comes out, measured per bar. "+0" indicates that the resulting alloy is a perfectly average value of the component metals. For pure metals, this indicates the difference in value between the metal and the ore, separated with commas in cases where multiple ore values differ.
::'''*''' - Values marked with an asterisk denote ores that can yield multiple metals. For metals that have a less than 100% chance of production, the stated value increase is for occasions on which metal is produced; on average, the difference in value from smelting either [[tetrahedrite]] or [[galena]] is +1.

== Weapon and armor quality ==

{{v0.31 material metal table head}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Adamantine|color={{Tile|/|3:1}}<span style="display:none">3:3:1</span>|source=[[Raw adamantine]]|notes=Can be used to forge anything except beds; <br/> Blades are ten times as sharp as any other material aside from obsidian|soliddensity=0.200|mp=25000|val=300|valinc=+50|impactyield=5000|impactfracture=5000|impactelasticity=0|shearyield=5000|shearfracture=5000|shearelasticity=0
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Steel|color={{Tile|/|0:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Iron]] + [[Pig iron]] + [[flux]] stone + [[fuel]] '''!'''|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, picks, and [[anvil]]s|soliddensity=7.85|val=30|valinc=+20|mp=12718|impactyield=1505|impactfracture=2520|impactelasticity=940|shearyield=430|shearfracture=720|shearelasticity=215
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Bismuth bronze|color={{Tile|/|6:1}}<span style="display:none">6:6:1</span>|source=2 [[Copper]] + 1 [[Tin]] + 1 [[Bismuth]] '''!'''|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.25|val=6|valinc=+4|mp=11868|impactyield=602|impactfracture=843|impactelasticity=547|shearyield=172|shearfracture=241|shearelasticity=156
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Bronze|color={{Tile|/|6:0}}<span style="display:none">6:4:0</span>|source=[[Tin]] + [[Copper]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.25|val=5|valinc=+3|mp=11868|impactyield=602|impactfracture=843|impactelasticity=547|shearyield=172|shearfracture=241|shearelasticity=156
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Iron|color={{Tile|/|0:1}}<span style="display:none">0:7:1</span>|source=[[Hematite]], [[Limonite]], [[Magnetite]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, picks, and [[anvil]]s|soliddensity=7.85|mp=12768|val=10|valinc=+2|impactyield=542|impactfracture=1080|impactelasticity=319|shearyield=155|shearfracture=310|shearelasticity=189
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Copper|color={{Tile|/|6:0}}<span style="display:none">6:4:0</span>|source=[[Native copper]], [[Malachite]], [[Tetrahedrite]]|notes=Can be used to forge all weapons, armor, ammunition, and picks|soliddensity=8.93|mp=11952|val=2|valinc=+0, +0, -1*|impactyield=245|impactfracture=770|impactelasticity=175|shearyield=70|shearfracture=220|shearelasticity=145
}}


{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Silver|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=[[Native silver]], [[Horn silver]],<br />[[Galena]] (50%), [[Tetrahedrite]] (20%) |notes=Can be used to forge melee weapons and ammunition|soliddensity=10.49|mp=11731|val=10|valinc=+0, +0,<br />+5*, +7*|impactyield=350|impactfracture=595|impactelasticity=350|shearyield=100|shearfracture=170|shearelasticity=333
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Bone|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=Creatures|notes=Can be used to make crossbows, ammunition and some armor|soliddensity=0.50|mp=NONE(burn at 10250)|val=1|valinc=+?, +?,<br />+?, +?|impactyield=200|impactfracture=200|impactelasticity=100|shearyield=115|shearfracture=130|shearelasticity=100
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Wood|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=Trees|notes=Can be used to make crossbows, ammunition and some armor and weapons|soliddensity=0.50|mp=NONE(burn at 10250)|val=1|valinc=+?, +?,<br />+?, +?|impactyield=10|impactfracture=10|impactelasticity=1000|shearyield=40|shearfracture=40|shearelasticity=1000
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Shell|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=Creatures|notes=Can be used to make some armor|soliddensity=0.50|mp=NONE(burn at 10250)|val=1|valinc=+?, +?,<br />+?, +?|impactyield=200|impactfracture=200|impactelasticity=100|shearyield=115|shearfracture=130|shearelasticity=100
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Cloth{{!}}Plant cloth|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=Plants|notes=Can be used to make clothing|soliddensity=1.52|mp=NONE(burn at 10250)|val=1|valinc=+?, +?,<br />+?, +?|impactyield=10|impactfracture=10|impactelasticity=100000|shearyield=600|shearfracture=600|shearelasticity=100000
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Cloth{{!}}Silk cloth|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=Silk|notes=Can be used to make clothing|soliddensity=0.50|mp=NONE(burn at 10250)|val=1|valinc=+?, +?,<br />+?, +?|impactyield=10|impactfracture=10|impactelasticity=100000|shearyield=1150|shearfracture=1200|shearelasticity=100000
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Cloth{{!}}Wool cloth|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=Hair|notes=Can be used to make clothing|soliddensity=0.50|mp=NONE(burn at 10508)|val=1|valinc=+?, +?,<br />+?, +?|impactyield=10|impactfracture=10|impactelasticity=100000|shearyield=60|shearfracture=120|shearelasticity=100000
}}

{{v0.31 material metal table row|name=Leather|color={{Tile|/|7:1}}<span style="display:none">7:7:1</span>|source=Creatures|notes=Can be used to make armor|soliddensity=0.50|mp=NONE(burn at 10250)|val=1|valinc=+?, +?,<br />+?, +?|impactyield=10|impactfracture=10|impactelasticity=50000|shearyield=25|shearfracture=25|shearelasticity=50000
}}


|}
*''Combat information'' is used internally by the game to determine the combat properties of weapons and armor made from this metal:
:'''Density''': Used in conjunction with other factors - heavier weapons (higher numbers) hit with more force, light weapons tend to have less penetration.  Value shown here is g/cm<sup>3</sup>, which is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup>
:'''Impact yield''': Used for blunt-force combat; ''higher'' is better. This is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup> (i.e., kPa).
:'''Impact fracture''': Used for blunt-force combat; ''higher'' is better. This is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup> (i.e., kPa).
:'''Impact elasticity''': Used for blunt-force combat; ''lower'' is better. This is the raw value.
:'''Shear yield''': Used for cutting calculations in combat; ''higher'' is better. This is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup> (i.e., kPa).
:'''Shear fracture''': Used for cutting calculations in combat; ''higher'' is better. This is the raw value divided by 10<sup>3</sup> (i.e., kPa).
:'''Shear elasticity''': Used for cutting calculations in combat; ''lower'' is better. This is the raw value.

*General Term Explanations (From Wikipedia)
:'''Yield Strength''' - The stress at which material strain changes from elastic deformation to plastic deformation, causing it to deform permanently.
:'''Fracture Strength''' - The stress coordinate on the stress-strain curve at the point of rupture.


:'''Stress''' - Force per area = F/A
:'''Strain''' - Deformation of a solid due to stress = Stress/Young's Modulus

So...
:Explanations!
::'''Yield Strength''' is the amount of stress required to permanently deform (bend) a material (plastic deformation)
::'''Fracture Strength''' is the amount of stress required to permanently break (rupture) a material 
::'''Elasticity''' (or ''IMPACT_STRAIN_AT_YIELD'' in RAWs) is the amount of deformation (bending) that occurs at the yield point
:Implications to Dwarf Fortress Combat
::Yield combined with Elasticity can tell what a material will do under stress (be it from a hammer, axe, or arrow)
::Higher yield means that it takes more stress to deform
::Lower elasticity means that it will deform less when stress is applied

'''Preliminary Combat Testing & Analysis'''

Adamantine and Steel take first and second place respectively, with Iron the third best material in the game. Beyond which, bronze is in a close tie with copper as to being the second worst material. As in older versions, silver continues to hold steady as the worst material available (no longer beneficial with wooden training weapons being available now) in regards to edged weaponry. 
Additionally, with regards to blunt weapons almost all of the non-adamantine materials perform equally well, with a very slight edge towards steel and silver. Here is the thread with the details:

http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=53571.0

Keep in mind with how unbelievably complicated this system is nothing should be taken as word of law yet. 

{| {{prettytable}}
|- bgcolor="#999999"
! 
! Best
! Better
! Good
! Fair
! Poor
! Terrible
! Notes
|-
| Armor
| Adamantine
| Steel
| Iron
| Bronze, Bismuth Bronze
| Copper
| 
| 
|-
| Edged Weapons
| Adamantine
| Steel
| Iron
| Bronze, Bismuth Bronze
| Copper
| Silver
| For piercing iron armor, copper is better than bronze.  For piercing copper or bronze armor, bronze is better than copper.
|-
| Ammunition
| Steel, Iron, Bronze, Bismuth Bronze, Copper, Silver
| 
| Adamantine
| 
| 
| 
| Adamantine bolts deflect off of adamantine armor, but otherwise their performance is on par with bolts made out of other metals.
|-
| Blunt Weapons
| Steel, Silver
| Copper, Bismuth Bronze, Bronze, Iron
| 
| 
| 
| Adamantine
| All six non-adamantine metals perform nearly identically. Steel has a slightly higher rate of critical wounds, while silver is slightly more likely to penetrate armor.
|}

Cross referencing this table with the table at the top of this section seems to indicate that low densities, high impact fractures, and high shear fractures contribute to the killing power of edged weapons

See also:
:Some [[User:Shinziril#Weapons_and_Armor|outstanding research]] on armor vs. different weapon types by Shinziril.
:[http://www.bay12forums.com/smf/index.php?topic=116151.0 Dwarven Research: A Comparison Study on the Effectiveness of Bolts vs Armors].

{{Category|Metals}}{{Category|Materials}}
[[ru:DF2012:Metal]]