Physical Properties of Copper for Identification and Classification Purposes.
This site contains information on the Physical Properties and Chemical Composition of Minerals, gemstones, crystals, precious metals, and sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks for crystallography, geology, identification of minerals, Jewelry and mineralogy. This includes cleavage, description of crystal formations, crystal structure, hardness, specific gravity, Mohs’ Scale, crystal features and crystal habits for identification and classification purposes.
Copper’s physical properties of conductivity, strength, ductility, malleability and resistance to corrosion and wear, make it a very versatile and highly useful metal. Its earliest applications date from 4000 BC and included ornaments and vessels. See history. Modern cultures use it for wiring and industrial applications but it remains highly used for ornamental use. In the 1970s it saw a surge in use for medicinal purposes. See healing.
Color
Copper’s color is a unique softly reflective brown red to deep brick
red. Exposure to Oxygen causes Copper to tarnish and turn a Teal Green as
is the case with one of America’s most famous monuments the Statue of
Liberty.
Presence
in Minerals
Copper is an element (Cu) and appears often in nature in compounds that
form minerals such as Malachite-CuCO(3) or Cu(OH)2, a green semi-precious
stone and Azurite-2CuCO(3) or Cu(OH)2, a blue crystal and the basic
Carbonate of Copper.
Alloys
The most famous Copper alloy is Bronze, a Copper/Tin alloy, that played a
large role in the advancement of ancient cultures. Copper is also often
mixed with Zinc to form Brass. Other alloys include Sterling Silver, which
is 92.5% Silver (minimum) and 7.5% Copper and lower Karat Gold. Jewelry
manufacturers add Copper to Silver and Gold to increase the strength of
the items. They also use Copper for the process of Electroplating Gold. In
Electroplating, jewelers apply Gold to Copper using electricity and can
achieve a very thin product.
Production
Ores of Copper include Sulfides, which require enriching the ore, and
oxidized ores, which require no enrichment. Copper mines are either open
pit mines or underground. Open pit mines are generally easier to make
profitable but are environmentally destructive.
Chemical Composition: Cu
Hardness 2½ - 3
Specific Gravity 8.9
Luster Metallic
Crystal System is isometric
Streak is reddish copper color.
Hardness is 2.5-3
Specific Gravity is 8.9+
Boiling
point: 2,567 degrees C
Atomic number: 29
Tensile
strength: approx. 19,000 psi
Atomic weight: 63.546
Melting point: 1,083 degrees C
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