Copper is one of very few elements that are found in essentially pure form in nature. These copper metal samples are displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
One of the more unusual forms is exhibited in this cross-section of a post which served as a support in a copper mine. It has been partially infilled and replaced by copper from the ground water in which it was submerged. The post is about 12 cm in diameter.
The metallic form at left measures about 15 cmwide.
This copper sample is from New Cornelia mine, Ajo, Arizona. It is about 30 cm across.
This massive sample of copper metal is from Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan. It is about 60cm wide.
Copper is one of the few elements that can be found in pure elemental form in nature, as shown by these samples. But the bulk of the copper resource is found in other minerals, such as those listed in this table.
Mindat: Copper
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