This paper gives an overview of the different processes of metal dusting (MD) that operate on low and high alloyed iron and nickel base alloys exposed in CO+H(2)-containing environments with or without water vapour. MID of pure metals like iron and nickel occur with a solely carbon-induced corrosion mechanism. However, in high alloyed materials with strong oxide formers such as Cr and Al, a more complex MD-process takes place which involves both carbon and oxygen in close collaboration. The "alloyed" carbides, i.e normally Cr-containing carbides, formed in such materials are thermodynamically stable with respect to the carbon activity. However, in the reaction front of a MD-pit with non-protective spinel oxide, they destabilise and dissolve due to the influence of the low oxygen activity determined by CO-dissociation. Based on recent results in the field of MD a chart with tentative MD mechanisms is presented as a function of alloy composition and temperature.