Native Copper Specimen Russia Altai

$43.00

Out of stock

Description

NATIVE COPPER SPECIMEN

This is the raw native copper specimen. Dimensions: 1.2 x 0.8 x 0.6″ (3.1 x 2 x 1.5cm). Weight – 1.2oz (35 grams). Origin: Russia, Altai.

Some information about native copper:

Native copper is an uncombined form of copper that occurs as a natural mineral. Copper is one of the few metallic elements to occur in native form, although it 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 rarely as 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). Its specific gravity is 8.9 and its hardness is 2.5–3.

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

Additional information

Weight 35 g