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Isn't that the same material used in the base of classic Hot Wheels cars? I had some drive rails stump me a while back until I snapped them. Zinc has that distinct porous look when broken. I think my Dad used to call it "pot metal"

Potmetal is a very specific class of alloys. Very soft low melting point metals.
Tin and lead is most common (pewter) but with addition of chrome (skunk), aluminium (Alsoft), copper (various bronzes), or silver (silveride).

The term comes from automotive metal casting. Low melt scraps were literally melted together in a clay or iron ‘pot’ cauldron. A great early method of industrial recycling.

With that pointed out, hot wheels are not and have never been potmetal: which is why they are so highly valued by collectors over other micro replicas. For most of their life they were clean die cast aluminium. Though in the mid 80s for an undetermined length of time the body was made of an aluminium and nickel alloy.
Based on terracycle (If I recall correctly) info on a prior collection program Today they’re made from recycled automotive aluminium. Body panels and rims. Making it “irony aluminium”. Hence them being ever so slightly magnetic.

Matchbox on the other hand has always used soft-ish alloys. Lead and aluminium prior to the mid 70s. Tin and aluminium after. With most of the bod stamped steel and later plastic as well.

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When in doubt, most reputable coin stores have some type of XRF equipment.
Have them scan it for you, it'll at least tell you what the outside composition is, down to a percentage.
Or use your scrap money to buy an XRF gun, they're only like 20-40k lol.

It’s not all that bad.
Some like ValTek start around $2000 though they’re on the low end of quality.
Evident hand scanners are in the $10-$25k range.

The. Again large stationary units cost millions.

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Too bad companies just can't be required to mark all their materials or something... :D Love seeing Mg and ZA-8 and such on things, no need to test.

Hey lost, sent you an email, figured you were busy but maybe it got buried over the holiday weekend?

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Here to learn more so I can recycle more
My grades are my own opinion and not an official grade from Boardsort

Rather tied up busy week heading into another of the same.

I cover your and all other emails when I have more than a moment of pause.
I’d rather be helpful, useful, and accurate, than just quick.

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No worries!

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Here to learn more so I can recycle more
My grades are my own opinion and not an official grade from Boardsort

Zinc is one of those metals that, like titanium, we are only beginning to understand how useful it can be.

High performance rims for racing are now being tested. Aluminium deforms under heat and friction, slightly,
Changing the aerodynamics enough to be noticeable.

Hugh end crypto miners are also switching to zinc sinks and cases. It doesn’t transfer heat quite as well as aluminium… but like copper it will bend towards the heat, not away like aluminium does. Meaning in extreme systems you actually get better cooling on par with copper. For a much lower cost. Which is why it’s long been used in thermal pastes.

Zinc is also making a comeback for low end wire mesh. As covers for battery packs in electric vehicles, the uses are endless.

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Here's a method to separate cast aluminum from
die cast. 100% effective. A Go/No Go test. 100% reliable. Never fails.
The test is to file the scrap piece in question to bright metal. Get rid of paint, dirt, etc. Get to the metal. Get through any coatings. I. E. Chrome on cast etc.
What is it? Your new friend. Cupric Sulfate. A. K. A. Copper Sulfate. Or Blue Vitriol.
Not expensive. No need to be a chemical engineer to use.
Available online. It is a blue crystal. Dissolves easily in water.
I make a simple solution of about 1 tablespoon to a quart of water. Note. Just a "off the cuff" measure I use.
NOW. Spray a small amount on the filed area.
If it turns black. Off color from the original filed shiny color. It is some form of Die Cast.
If you see no change in color. It is Cast Aluminum.
Remember. This a reliable Yes/No. Cast Aluminum or Die Cast.
It is basically the additives introduced to Die Cast that the Copper Sulfate reacts with.Cast Aluminum is pure. No change in color.
Also. If it is magnesium. It will bubble. Reacting with the metal.