Copper

  

This was one of the first metals to be worked into implements and the first metal to be smelted from ores. Its excellent ductility and high conductivity assure its use in modern society. Today, the greatest use of this mineral is for electrical purposes. It is named from the Greek “kyprios” of Cyprus, the location of ancient copper mines; Latin “cuprum.”

Mineral Photos courtesy of R.Weller/Cochise College