The Versatility of Copper
The ease at which copper could be obtained meant that it was probably the first metal to be used by our ancestors. Copper is one of the most common elements and is often found on the surface of the ground, meaning that it was easily accessible to early people. Its malleability and softness meant that it could easily be fashioned into weapons and useful items such as bowls simply by hammering. Early metal smiths soon discovered that copper became harder when hammered, but that the process could be reversed if the item was heated. Many ancient objects were formed in just this way; they were first hammered, then heated, and hammered again.
It is now believed that copper first came to be used in Middle East nearly 10,000 years ago and smelting was done in Egypt around 4,500 B.C. Interestingly, copper came to be used nearly all over the world at approximately the same time, and China and India also had fledgling copper industries in this same time frame. Perhaps the world's first plumbing has been discovered in Egypt, where copper tubing was used in temples and tombs. Surprisingly, Oetzti the Iceman found in the Alps, who lived about 3,300 B.C., was carrying an axe with a cast copper head. This find has caused scientists to rethink the date at which humans began metallurgy.
From these early beginnings, the use of copper has branched out. It was discovered by early metal workers that copper could be combined with other elements to make alloys. The first such alloy discovered was bronze, which was a combination of copper and tin. This results in a metal much harder than copper, and one of its first uses was for improved weapons. Brass was a later discovery and is an alloy of copper and zinc. Brass has often been used for decorative purposes on account of its soft, golden appearance and its resistance to tarnishing.
Although mankind undoubtedly first used copper found in its native state, it was not long before it began to be mined. Copper mining is still carried out today in areas that are rich in copper deposits, such as in Utah and New Mexico in the United States, and areas of South America, Africa, and Kazakhstan.
One of copper's main uses has always been in coinage. The Romans used copper for some of their coins, and even today, copper is used to make coins. Copper is an excellent metal to use for coining as it permits for a high amount of detailing on the face of the coin. Besides being used for coins, copper is also used for sculpture and jewelry.
The use of copper in electronics is vast, and most homes are equipped with copper wires to power all of our appliances. Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity, which has meant that it is used in appliances and circuit boards. Circuit boards are necessary for almost every facet of modern life - from computers and cell phones to microwave ovens and televisions.
And like the Ancient Egyptians, we still use copper for our piping needs today. These pipes will safely deliver water to your home, and leach nothing into your drinking water as plastic pipes can do. These pipes are little likely to corrode and even contribute a slight antibacterial quality to your water.
Today, the world consumes an enormous amount of copper for many reasons, so it is probably a good thing that it is one of the most abundant minerals on earth.
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