銅(tong)(tong)(tong)是(shi)人(ren)類最早使(shi)用(yong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)金(jin)屬(shu)。早在(zai)(zai)史(shi)前時代，人(ren)們就開(kai)始采掘露天(tian)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)，并用(yong)獲(huo)取的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)制造武(wu)器(qi)、式具和其(qi)他(ta)(ta)器(qi)皿，銅(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)使(shi)用(yong)對早期人(ren)類文明的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)進步(bu)影響深(shen)遠。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)是(shi)一(yi)種(zhong)存在(zai)(zai)于(yu)(yu)(yu)地殼(ke)和海洋中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)金(jin)屬(shu)。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)在(zai)(zai)地殼(ke)中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)含(han)量約為0.01%，在(zai)(zai)個別銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)床中(zhong)(zhong)，銅(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)含(han)量可以達(da)到3%～5%。自然界中(zhong)(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)，多數以化(hua)合(he)物即銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)物存在(zai)(zai)。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)物與其(qi)他(ta)(ta)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)物聚合(he)成(cheng)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)石，開(kai)采出來的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)石，經過選(xuan)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)而(er)成(cheng)為含(han)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)品位(wei)較高的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)精礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)。是(shi)唯(wei)一(yi)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)能(neng)大量天(tian)然產(chan)出的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)金(jin)屬(shu)，也存在(zai)(zai)于(yu)(yu)(yu)各種(zhong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)石（例如黃銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)、輝銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)、斑銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)、赤銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)和孔雀石）中(zhong)(zhong)，能(neng)以單(dan)質(zhi)金(jin)屬(shu)狀態及黃銅(tong)(tong)(tong)、青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)和其(qi)他(ta)(ta)合(he)金(jin)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)形態用(yong)于(yu)(yu)(yu)工(gong)業、工(gong)程技(ji)術(shu)和工(gong)藝上。

銅是(shi)(shi)與人類關系非常密(mi)切的有色金屬，被廣泛地應用于電(dian)氣(qi)、輕工、機械制(zhi)造、建筑工業(ye)、國(guo)防工業(ye)等領域，在中國(guo)有色金屬材料的消費中僅次(ci)于鋁。銅是(shi)(shi)一種紅色金屬，同(tong)時也是(shi)(shi)一種綠(lv)色金屬。說它(ta)是(shi)(shi)綠(lv)色金屬，主(zhu)要是(shi)(shi)因為它(ta)熔(rong)點較(jiao)低，容易再熔(rong)化、再冶煉，因而(er)回收利(li)用相當地便宜。古(gu)代主(zhu)要用于器皿(min)、藝(yi)術品及武(wu)器鑄造，比較(jiao)有名的器皿(min)及藝(yi)術品如司母(mu)戊(wu)鼎(ding)、四(si)羊方(fang)尊。