Abstract: This invention discloses a method for covering the surface of a molten metal to preserve the heat of the molten metal and to prevent oxidation of the molten metal by the surrounding atmosphere, comprising covering the surface of the molten metal with as many floating elements of a molten metal surface covering material as can be floated on the surface of the molten metal. Also disclosed is the molten metal surface covering material itself, which comprises a plurality of suitably shaped floating elements made of an inorganic refractory material, which may comprise a calcium silicate hydrate in matrix form, such as xonotlite, and may include fibrous wollastonite, or it may comprise ceramic fibers bound with an inorganic binding agent. Typically, the floating elements are substantially spherical with a diameter of 10 to 100 mm, and their density is 0.7 to 1.4 g/cm.sup.3.