(Latin cuprum , from the island of Cyprus) It is believed that copper has beenmined for 5,000 years.

Copper occasionally occurs native, and is found in many minerals such as cuprite,malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite, and bornite.

Large copper ore deposits are found in the U.S., Chile, Zambia, Zaire, Peru, andCanada. The most important copper ores are the sulfides, the oxides, and carbonates. Fromthese, copper is obtained by smelting, leaching, and by electrolysis.