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Copper
Main Deposits
Large deposits exist in the United States (Lake Superior), where the largest fragment of native copper weighed over 420 tons. Native copper has also been found in Germany (Mansfield Shale, Zwickau, Wolf Mines near Herdof, Reichenbach), the USSR (Ural Mountains), the United States (Bisbee, Georgetown, Keweenaw), Mexico (Cananea), Australia (Burra), Chile, Namibia (Tsumeb), and elsewhere.
Description and Characteristics
Native copper is a transition metal found mainly in the oxidation zones of copper deposits or as primary deposits in basaltic lava cavities. It belongs to the cubic crystal system. Although it usually occurs in irregular masses, dendrites or filaments, its well-formed crystals are rare and highly prized. It is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, and is distinguished by its malleability and its reddish metallic colour, which over time develops a greenish patina (carbonate) due to exposure to moisture.
| Chemical Formula | $$Cu$$ |
|---|---|
| Luster | Metal |
| Streak | Bright |
| Fracture | Hooked |
| Cleavage | Null |
| Hardness | 2,5-3 Mohs |
| Crystal System | Cubic |
Did you know...?
Copper was the first metal that humans learnt to work with around 10,000 years ago. The name comes from the Latin word ‘cuprum’, derived from the island of Cyprus, which was the main source of this metal for the ancient Romans.
New-Age Properties
Copper is known as the "great conductor," not only on a physical level, but also energetically. It helps to channel and amplify the flow of thought and healing energy.