Native copper: meaning, history of the metal, care and jewellery

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Copper is a reddish metal, one of the first used by humanity. It is sometimes found in its native state, as branched nuggets. History, symbolism, care.

Key points

Colour	bright orange-red; darkens to brown and then verdigris green with air and humidity
Nature	chemical element (Cu, no. 29), a metal; also occurs in native form
Hardness (Mohs)	about 3
Ancient use	used by humanity since about 8000 BCE in several regions
Origin of the name	from Latin aes cyprium, "metal of Cyprus"
Native copper deposits	Great Lakes region (Michigan, Keweenaw Peninsula), Chile, Russia, Arizona
Particularity	good conductor of heat and electricity, malleable
Traditional correspondences	planet Venus; earth element; heart or sacral chakra, according to authors

What is copper?

Copper (symbol Cu, atomic number 29) is a metal of orange-red colour, soft (about 3 on the Mohs scale), highly malleable and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is one of the first metals worked by humanity: its uses are attested from about 8000 BCE in several regions of the Middle East and beyond, long before the invention of bronze (an alloy of copper and tin).

Its name comes from the Latin aes cyprium, "metal of Cyprus", the island that was the main source of copper in Roman times. The "stones" chapter does not concern industrial metal but native copper: nuggets, dendrites or branched plates found as pure metal. The most famous example is the Lake Superior region, where a mass of native copper of about 420 tonnes was discovered in 1857 on the Keweenaw Peninsula (Michigan), according to Wikipedia.

Most modern copper comes from sulfide ores, such as chalcopyrite and bornite, or from oxides such as cuprite.

Copper in tradition

In ancient Greece and Rome, copper was linked to Aphrodite/Venus, a goddess who, according to myth, was born near Cyprus. Alchemists associated copper with the planet Venus (in the classical system of seven metals, with gold for the Sun, silver for the Moon, and so on). The symbol of Venus (a circle topped by a cross) is in fact used to denote copper in old notation.

These correspondences are symbolic traditions: they tell us how people viewed the world, not what the metal does. Copper has thus been associated with love, beauty, harmony and circulation (through its conductivity). No study shows any effect on the body or character.

Traditional correspondences

Area	Correspondence cited
Planet	Venus (alchemical tradition)
Chakra	heart or sacral, according to authors
Element	earth; sometimes water
Signs	Taurus and Libra (of which Venus is the ruling planet)
Keywords	harmony, circulation, beauty

Copper and health: what studies say

Copper is an essential trace element, present in small amounts in the body (about 1.4 to 2.1 mg per kilo of body weight in adults). This does not mean that a copper object supplies it: metal worn on the skin does not nourish the body.

Copper bracelets are often presented as a remedy for joint pain. A randomized double-blind trial conducted in 2013 by a team at the University of York (United Kingdom), with 70 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, found no difference between a copper bracelet, a magnetic bracelet and a placebo. We therefore do not promise any effect of this kind.

If you suffer from pain, consult a health professional. A copper piece of jewellery is just jewellery, nothing more.

How to use it

As jewellery: copper bracelet, ring or pendant. The metal can leave a greenish mark on the skin: this is not dangerous and washes off with soap. A clear varnish or a thin layer of oil limits this effect. See the jewellery guide for stones.
As a collector's piece: a sample of native copper, with its branching.
As a symbolic support: copper wire wrapped around a stone is a common craft setting (wire-wrapped pendant).
As decoration: coin, bowl, spiral.

Care

Tarnishing: copper oxidises. It darkens, then turns green on the surface (a patina known as verdigris, of the same family as that of the Statue of Liberty). This is not a deterioration of the metal, but a change in appearance.
Cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap, drying. To restore shine, rub with lemon juice and a little salt, then rinse thoroughly and dry. Avoid doing this on a piece set with fragile stones.
Protective varnish: a clear varnish slows the patina.
Symbolic cleansing: smoke or sound (see the guide).

Precautions

No elixirs: copper salts are toxic in quantity. Do not leave copper soaking in water or in a drink you consume, especially if the water is acidic.
Allergy: some people react to copper or to alloyed metals (nickel). Pure copper jewellery is rare; check the alloy.
Verdigris: do not put it in your mouth.
Wilson's disease: this rare genetic disease leads to copper accumulating in the body; people affected follow specific medical treatment.

Recognising and choosing

Native copper is rare and increasingly prized by collectors. Pieces sold cheaply are often wires, pieces of aged industrial copper, or even brass pieces (an alloy of copper and zinc, more yellow). Ask about the origin and look for the words "native copper". A piece of native copper has irregular surfaces, branching and crystals, never traces of machining.

For jewellery, check the alloy and the finish. To go further, read real or fake stone.