1. The very first metals

2. The Stone Age The history of human technology begins with the discovery of how to give stone a cutting edge. The type of stone found most suitable for this purpose was flint.

3. The Stone Age Our earliest ancestors did not know metals at all and this period is called the Stone Age. Opposite is a sword and spear made of flint

4. The Copper Age The earliest uses of Copper probably involved hammering native copper (i.e. pieces that occur naturally in metallic form).

5. The Bronze Age By 1,000 BC, swords, tools and items of jewellery were being made and in Roman times, solid cast sculptural work became highly developed.

6. The Iron Age The first type of Iron known by man was Meteoric iron. Early races knew iron by some such name as ‘Heaven Metal’ or stone from heaven.

7. The Iron Age Primitive furnaces could not provide an adequate temperature

8. Interesting Facts Mercury is the only metal which is liquid at room temperature and solidifies at about -39ºC

9. Interesting facts Nickel is named after ‘old Nick’ or the devil. Cobalt is named after the German name for elves which is Kobolds.

10. Age of Aluminium In the mid-1800s aluminium was more valuable than gold. Napoleon III's most important guests were given aluminium cutlery, while those less worthy dined with mere silver;

11. Aluminium Today aluminium is a critical component of modern life, found in airplanes, automobiles, soft drink cans, construction materials, cooking equipment, guardrails, and countless other products.

12. Analysis of the Earth’s Crust

13. Diamond Even though diamond is known to be the hardest naturally occurring mineral it would be crushed into dust if hit with a hammer. The hardness relates to its ability to scratch other materials,

14. Diamond Diamonds are carried to the surface by volcanic eruptions. The volcanic magma conduit is known as a kimberlite pipe or diamond pipe. We find diamonds as inclusions in the (rather ordinary looking) volcanic rock known as kimberlite

15. Gold Perhaps in 2002 this is the most famous gold object in the World! The World Cup football trophy is made of solid 18-carat gold and is 32cm high. 18-carat