Abstract: A method for recovering a metal from a metal ore or waste metal-containing material comprises contacting the ore or waste material with an acidic leaching solution effective for leaching and forming a pregnant solution of at least one metal to be recovered, and contacting the pregnant solution with a steel substrate so as to cement the at least one metal and from which one can recover the metal. The method is particularly suited to the recovery of precious metals such as gold. The steel substrate can be particulate, such as steel shavings, so that the steel substrate is used in a form which results in a high surface area to volume ratio of steel.