Ingot

An ingot is a piece of relatively pure material, usually metal, that is cast into a shape suitable for further processing.^[1] In steelmaking, it is the first step among semi-finished casting products. Ingots usually require a second procedure of shaping, such as cold/hot working, cutting, or milling to produce a useful final product. Non-metallic and semiconductor materials prepared in bulk form may also be referred to as ingots, particularly when cast by mold based methods.^[2] Precious metal ingots can be used as currency (with or without being processed into other shapes), or as a currency reserve, as with gold bars.