solid metal blank; regulus; matte; pig
Technical term in metallurgy and smelting for a solid mass of metal, often an intermediate product before further processing. Covers various forms: regulus (relatively pure metal), matte (sulfide mixture), and pig (crude ingot).
At the smelter, the solid metal blank taken from the blast furnace is further refined.
This solid metal mass is an intermediate product called matte, which contains many impurities.