Cat Gold as Early Metal

[Grog]

its an iron sulfate, so its iron based...

[Sevenless]

its an iron sulfate, so its iron based...

The world metal is a specifc subset of characteristics. Pyrite doesn't qualify as a metal in part because it's brittle instead of malleable.

A good all encompassing term is Mineral for non-organic compounds that have ordered structures.

[Terean]

I like the idea of a forageable that you need a certain amount of, like 5 or 10, to make a metal nugget that can be used in something like a wooden chest or mine support.

However, a few things. Make it a rare foregeable, not something that big villages can just set a few alts to chipping stones for. Also, have a higher chance for cave-ins when mining the first tile, something high enough that you pretty much need a mine shaft, 50% or something. It would make owning a cave less of such a huge head start, when you can't mine walls to check for ore veins without a large risk and makes prospecting a greater necessity at the start.

It would be nice if the world was older before people started getting metals unless the people are willing to take more risks, and I don't think it would be too detrimental for the hermits that find a cave, finding the materials needed to craft nuggets needed while foraging.