I WAS LOOKING FOR A CAST IRON WOK WHEN I FOUND THIS WONDERFUL PAN. IT'S CONSTRUCTION IS CAST IRON BUT IS A LIGHTER WEIGHT AND DOES NOT LOSE THE QUALITY OF CAST IRON COOKING. IN MY OLDER UMMMM OLDER AGE I WANTED TO HAVE THE QUALITY OF CAST IRON BUT NOT THE HEAVY WEIGHT THIS PAN DOES THE TRICK FOR ME. THE QUALITY OF HEATING SURFACE IS EXCELLENT.