Native elements

(geology) Any of 20 elements, such as copper, gold, and silver, which occur naturally uncombined in a nongaseous state; there are three groups—metals, semimetals, and nonmetals.

Those elements which occur in nature uncombined with other elements. Aside from the free gases of the atmosphere there are about 20 elements that are found as minerals in the native state. These are divided into metals, semimetals, and nonmetals. Gold, silver, copper, and platinum are the most important metals and each of these has been found abundantly enough at certain localities to be mined as an ore. Rarer native metals are others of the platinum group, lead, mercury, tantalum, tin, and zinc. Native iron is found sparingly both as terrestrial iron and meteoric iron.

The native semimetals can be divided into (1) the arsenic group, including arsenic, antimony, and bismuth; and (2) the tellurium group, including tellurium and selenium.

The native nonmetals are sulfur, and carbon in the forms of graphite and diamond. Native sulfur is the chief industrial source of that element.