This is a Chinese term, though it has a English translation of
colour metal or
non-ferrous metal. That is why you cannot find
colour metal or
non-ferrous metal in any English encylocpedia.
Definition:
"通常指除鐵(有時也除鉻和錳)和鐵基合金以外的其餘金屬, 可分為四類:
(1) 重金屬, 如銅、鋅、鉛、鎳等
(2) 輕金屬, 如鈉、鈣、鎂、鋁等
(3) 貴金屬, 如金、銀、鉑、銥等
(4) 稀有金屬, 如鍺、鈹、鑭、鈾等
稀有金屬在現代工業中具有重要的實際意義, 往往從有色金屬中劃出, 與黑色金屬和有色金屬并列為三大類。"
quoted from 某大陸化工辭典

another term: 黑色金屬

註:
銥 = iridium
鍺 = germanium
鈹 = beryllium
鑭= lanthanum
# posted by Birdie @ 11:59 PM