Difference between revisions of "Native copper"

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[[Image:Native Copper Macro Digon3.jpg‎|200px|thumb|right|Native copper (specimen ~4 cm)]]
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{{Infobox mineral
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| name        = Copper
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| category    = [[Native element]]
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| boxwidth    =
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| boxbgcolor  =
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| image      = Native Copper Macro Digon3.jpg‎
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| caption    = Native copper (specimen ~4 cm)
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| formula    = Cu
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| strunz      = 01.AA.05
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| dana        = 01.01.01.03
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| symmetry    = 2/m <u style="text-decoration:overline">3</u> 2/m
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| color      = brown, copper red, pink
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| habit      =
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| system      = [[Cubic crystal system|cubic]]
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| twinning    =
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| cleavage    =
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| fracture    =
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| mohs        = 2½–3
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| luster      = metallic
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| refractive  = 1.66–1.68
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| opticalprop =
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| birefringence =
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| pleochroism =
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| streak      = rose
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| gravity    = 8.93
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| melt        =
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| fusibility  =
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| diagnostic  =
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| solubility  = insoluble
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| diaphaneity = opaque
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| other      =
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| references  = <ref name="WebMineral">{{WebMineral-ref | name=Copper|url=http://webmineral.com/data/Copper.shtml | accessdate=2009-12-04}}.</ref><ref name="MinDat">{{MinDat-ref | name=Copper | id=1209 | accessdate=2009-12-04}}.</ref>
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}}
 
[[Copper]], as '''native copper''', is one of the few [[metal]]lic [[chemical element|element]]s to occur in uncombined form as a natural [[mineral]], although most commonly occurs in oxidized states and mixed with other elements. Native copper was an important [[ore]] of copper in historic times and was used by pre-historic peoples.
 
[[Copper]], as '''native copper''', is one of the few [[metal]]lic [[chemical element|element]]s to occur in uncombined form as a natural [[mineral]], although most commonly occurs in oxidized states and mixed with other elements. Native copper was an important [[ore]] of copper in historic times and was used by pre-historic peoples.
  
Native copper occurs as rarely isometric cubic and octahedral crystals, but more typically as irregular masses and fracture fillings. It has a reddish, orangish, and/or brownish color on fresh surfaces, but typically is [[weathering|weathered]] and coated with a green [[tarnish]] of [[copper(II) carbonate]] (also known as [[patina]] or [[verdigris]]). Its [[specific gravity]] is 8.9 and its [[Mohs hardness|hardness]] is 2.5-3.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/elements/copper/copper.htm |title=Native Copper |publisher=Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery |accessdate=2005-06-26}}</ref>
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Native copper occurs as rarely isometric cubic and octahedral crystals, but more typically as irregular masses and fracture fillings. It has a reddish, orangish, and/or brownish color on fresh surfaces, but typically is [[weathering|weathered]] and coated with a green [[tarnish]] of [[copper(II) carbonate]] (also known as [[patina]] or [[verdigris]]).
  
The mines of the [[Keweenaw]] native copper deposits of [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan|Upper Michigan]] were major copper producers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and are the largest deposits of native copper in the world.<ref name="michigan">{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/20050909185216/http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333/copper.html |title=Michigan's Copper Deposits and Mining |accessdate=2005-06-26}} (Web archive; click cancel when it asks for authentication.)</ref>  Native Americans mined copper on a small scale, and evidence exists of copper trading routes throughout North America among native peoples, proven by isotopic analysis.  The first commercial mines in the [[Keweenaw Peninsula]] (which is nicknamed the "[[Copper Country]]" and "[[Copper Island]])", opened in the 1840s.  [[Isle Royale]] in western Lake Superior was also a site of many tons of native copper.  Some of it was extracted by native peoples, but only one of several commercial attempts at mining turned a profit there.<ref name="michigan"/>
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The mines of the [[Keweenaw]] native copper deposits of [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan|Upper Michigan]] were major copper producers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and are the largest deposits of native copper in the world.<ref name="michigan">{{citation | url = http://web.archive.org/web/20050909185216/http://www.geo.msu.edu/geo333/copper.html | title = Michigan's Copper Deposits and Mining | accessdate = 2005-06-26}}.</ref>  Native Americans mined copper on a small scale, and evidence exists of copper trading routes throughout North America among native peoples, proven by isotopic analysis.  The first commercial mines in the [[Keweenaw Peninsula]] (which is nicknamed the "[[Copper Country]]" and "[[Copper Island]])", opened in the 1840s.  [[Isle Royale]] in western Lake Superior was also a site of many tons of native copper.  Some of it was extracted by native peoples, but only one of several commercial attempts at mining turned a profit there.<ref name="michigan"/>
  
 
Another major native copper deposit is in [[Corocoro (Bolivia)|Corocoro]], [[Bolivia]].
 
Another major native copper deposit is in [[Corocoro (Bolivia)|Corocoro]], [[Bolivia]].
  
The name copper comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''kyprios'', of [[Cyprus]], the location of copper mines since pre-historic times.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mindat.org/min-1209.html |title=Copper: Copper mineral information and data. |publisher=Mindat |accessdate=2005-06-26}}</ref>
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The name copper comes from the [[Greek language|Greek]] ''kyprios'', of [[Cyprus]], the location of copper mines since pre-historic times.
 
 
== See also ==
 
 
 
* [[Copper Inuit]]
 
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
 
{{reflist}}
 
*{{cite web |url=http://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/PreEuropeanPeople/EarlyCultures/native_nativecopper.html |title=Prehistoric Copper in Wisconsin |publisher=Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center |accessdate=2005-06-26}}
 
  
 
==Further reading==
 
==Further reading==
*Thurner, Arthur W. ''Strangers and Sojourners - A History of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula''  (Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.: Wayne State University Press, 1994) ISBN 0814323960.B
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*{{citation | last = Thurner | first = Arthur W. | title = Strangers and Sojourners A History of Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula | location = Detroit | publisher = Wayne State University Press | year = 1994 | isbn = 0814323960}}.
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*{{citation | url = http://www.uwlax.edu/mvac/PreEuropeanPeople/EarlyCultures/native_nativecopper.html | title = Prehistoric Copper in Wisconsin | publisher = Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center | accessdate = 2005-06-26}}.
  
[[Category:Native element minerals]]
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[[Category:Native element minerals|Copper (native)]]
[[Category:Copper]]
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[[Category:Copper minerals|*]]
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[[Category:Dana class 01|Copper (native)]]
  
 
{{Imported from Wikipedia|name=Native copper|id=319736008}}
 
{{Imported from Wikipedia|name=Native copper|id=319736008}}

Latest revision as of 11:35, 4 December 2009

Copper

Native copper (specimen ~4 cm)
General
Category Native element
Chemical formula Cu
Strunz classification 01.AA.05
Dana classification 01.01.01.03
Crystal symmetry 2/m 3 2/m
Identification
Color brown, copper red, pink
Crystal system cubic
Mohs scale hardness 2½–3
Luster metallic
Streak rose
Diaphaneity opaque
Specific gravity 8.93
Refractive index 1.66–1.68
Solubility insoluble
References [1][2]

Copper, as native copper, is one of the few metallic elements to occur in uncombined form as a natural mineral, although most commonly occurs in oxidized states and mixed with other elements. Native copper was an important ore of copper in historic times and was used by pre-historic peoples.

Native copper occurs as rarely isometric cubic and octahedral crystals, but more typically as irregular masses and fracture fillings. It has a reddish, orangish, and/or brownish color on fresh surfaces, but typically is weathered and coated with a green tarnish of copper(II) carbonate (also known as patina or verdigris).

The mines of the Keweenaw native copper deposits of Upper Michigan were major copper producers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and are the largest deposits of native copper in the world.[3] Native Americans mined copper on a small scale, and evidence exists of copper trading routes throughout North America among native peoples, proven by isotopic analysis. The first commercial mines in the Keweenaw Peninsula (which is nicknamed the "Copper Country" and "Copper Island)", opened in the 1840s. Isle Royale in western Lake Superior was also a site of many tons of native copper. Some of it was extracted by native peoples, but only one of several commercial attempts at mining turned a profit there.[3]

Another major native copper deposit is in Corocoro, Bolivia.

The name copper comes from the Greek kyprios, of Cyprus, the location of copper mines since pre-historic times.

References

Further reading

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