Editing Ingot (section)

{{Short description|Piece of relatively pure metal}}{{for|the fictional character|Kingsman: The Red Diamond#Characters}}
[[File:Lingot aluminium.jpg|thumb|right|Aluminium ingot after ejection from mold]]
[[File:Pouring gold.jpg |thumb|Pouring molten gold into a mold at the [[commons:Category:La Luz Gold Mine|La Luz Gold Mine]] in [[Siuna, Nicaragua|Siuna]], [[Nicaragua]], about 1959.|300x300px]]
An '''ingot''' is a piece of relatively pure material, usually [[metal]], that is [[Casting|cast]] into a shape suitable for further processing.<ref>Chalmers, p. 254.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | title = Simulation of Silicon Casting Process for Photovoltaic (PV) Application | url = https://www.esi-group.com/sites/default/files/resource/publication/1319/tms2009-wu-scott.pdf | last1 = Wu | first1 = B. | last2 = Scott | first2 = S. | last3 = Stoddard | first3 = N. | last4 = Clark | first4 = R. | last5 = Sholapurwalla | first5 = A }}</ref> [[Precious metal]] ingots can be used as currency (with or without being processed into other shapes), or as a currency reserve, as with [[gold bar]]s.