mineral

Native Copper

Copper (Cu)

Mohs hardness 2.5-3; metallic reddish-orange color with characteristic metallic luster; isometric/cubic crystal system; hackly fracture; high specific gravity (~8.9 g/cm³).

Identified July 22, 2026More mineral →

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Physical properties

Mohs hardness 2.5-3; metallic reddish-orange color with characteristic metallic luster; isometric/cubic crystal system; hackly fracture; high specific gravity (~8.9 g/cm³).

Formation & geological history

Forms primarily as a secondary mineral in oxidation zones of copper deposits or from hydrothermal solutions filling cavities in basaltic lavas.

Uses & applications

Widely used in electrical wiring, electronics, plumbing, alloys (brass and bronze), sculpture, and collected as mineral specimens.

Geological facts

Native copper is one of the few metallic elements that occurs in nature in directly usable metallic form (native state), used by early humans since around 8000 BC.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its high density, metallic copper color, malleability (bends without breaking), and hackly fracture. Commonly found in Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula (USA), Chile, Arizona, and Germany.