History of copper
Copper has been an essential material to man since
prehistoric times. In fact, one of the major 'ages' or stages of human history
is named after a copper alloy: bronze. Copper was the first metal used by man
in any quantity. The earliest workers in copper soon found that it could be
easily hammered into sheets and the sheets in turn worked into shapes which
became more complex as their skill increased.
It was the copper metals which were used when a combination
of strength and durability was required. The ability to resist corrosion
ensured that copper, bronze and brass remained as both functional and decorative
materials during the Middle Ages and the successive centuries through the
Industrial Revolution and on to the present day.
(http://copperalliance.org.uk/copper-and-its-alloys/history)
Initial thing you should know
What is copper
looks like
Copper is a chemical element with symbol Cu (from Latin: cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical
conductivity. A freshly
exposed surface of pure copper has a reddish-orange colour.
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/NatCopper.jpg)
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper)
Copper through
the age
Copper Age: 9000
~ 3500 BC
-
Copper is man's oldest metal, dating back more
than 10,000 years. A copper pendant discovered in what is now in northern Iraq. The Egyptians
used the ankh symbol to denote copper in their system of hieroglyphs. It also
represented eternal life. Copper axes were manufactured by casting in the
Balkans in the 4th millennium BC. The ancient Romans extracted copper ores on
Cyprus.
(http://copperalliance.org.uk/copper-and-its-alloys/history/copper-through-the-ages)
(http://horridhistory.weebly.com/uploads/1/2/0/0/12005325/9475830_orig.jpg)
(Type of ancient Egyptian axe, on ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics)
Bronze Age: 3500 ~ 1500 BC
-
In this time, where Bronze tools replaced all
the other metal, including copper, due to its strength. And copper was smelted
with tin to create bronze.
(https://prezi.com/iykubyj0huqv/copper-timeline/)
Iron Age: 1500 ~ 100
BC
Middle Ages and Beyond: 1447 ~ Today
·
The invention of printing in the 15th century increased the demand for
copper because of the ease with which copper sheets could be engraved or etched
for use as printing plates. At
this time copper plates were adopted as the best means of engraving maps.
The first known maps printed from copper plates are two Italian editions, dated
1472, by the geographer Claudius Ptolemy.
(Copper-plate
printing machine) (http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/20900/20909/cprpltprint_20909_lg.gif)
(http://copperalliance.org.uk/copper-and-its-alloys/history/copper-through-the-ages)
(http://www.briarpress.org/?q=system/files/Sacred%20Harp%20Copper%20plate%20with%20page.jpg)
(printed music on copper plate)
·
Coins
were made out of copper: 1793
Pennies/coins
were made from pure copper. They were made from 100% copper. This existed till
1857.
Then they were made from
1857-1864 : 88% copper, 12% nickel
1864-1942 and 1944-mid 1982 : 95% copper, 5% tin/zinc
1943 : steel plated with zinc
mid 1982-present : zinc plated with copper.
(https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/124284)
·
copper
extraction from its ore: 1915
Copper
extracted from ore classed as copper bearing (copper, copper-lead, and
copper-zinc ores), and total production of copper from all sources in 1915.
Considerable copper was recovered from old slag and ores not classed as copper
ores. Most of the copper from Colorado is derived from ores classed as
siliceous ores and lead ore.
(https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/124284)
·
Eight
most abundant metal: 1987
Atkinson
discovered that copper is the 8th most abundant metal in earth’s crust that it
one of the few that can appear in a pure state.
(https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/124284)
·
Rising Price: 2003
There
was an 11-day strike which caused the production-related bonuses to push the
copper prices higher. This was over ten copper mine wage.
(https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/124284)
UK Production
-
In the early 18th century
Swansea was becoming a major copper centre and by 1860 was smelting about 90%
of the world’s output.
-
Copper and tin mining had begun in Cornwall in the
early Bronze Age (approximately 2150 BC) and the copper production peaked in
1856 with 164,000 tons being produced. Tin mining continued until
1998. Neither tin nor copper are produced in Cornwall today.
-
During the 19th century,
Birmingham became the main centre for fabricating non-ferrous metals in
Britain, a position that is still held. Many major developments in the
copper industry emanated from the Birmingham area.
(http://copperalliance.org.uk/copper-and-its-alloys/history/copper-through-the-ages)
Today, modern society demands that data passes between people
and organisations in milliseconds. Large diameter submarine copper cables
transfer signals between continents, while tiny copper wires transmit power and
data to individual users. Even wireless communications require copper
cabling in masts and relay stations.
From the early days to modern times, copper cables and wire are the unsung
heroes of the age of communication, which is a rapidly evolving industry.
(http://copperalliance.org.uk/copper-and-its-alloys/history/copper-through-the-ages)
Uses of Copper
The Statue of Liberty and other art objects are often made of
copper materials because of their durability.
Copper and copper alloys are used to transport electricity to and in our
homes and businesses. Copper is the primary electrical conductor for appliances
and electronics. It is used in durable and decorative applications such as
copper roofing, door hardware, railings and decorative trim. It is used in our
cars and airplanes and in our plumbing systems.
During production of shaped copper materials, various other metals are
added to give copper additional properties. These alloying elements add
strength, ductility, durability, corrosion protection and other
properties. Copper is an important material for improving our
quality of life.
(https://www.copper.org/education/copper-production/)