銅(tong)(tong)(tong)是人類最早使(shi)用(yong)的(de)(de)金(jin)(jin)屬。早在(zai)史前時代，人們(men)就開(kai)始(shi)采掘露天(tian)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)，并用(yong)獲取的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)制造武器、式具(ju)和其他(ta)器皿，銅(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)使(shi)用(yong)對(dui)早期人類文(wen)明的(de)(de)進步(bu)影響(xiang)深遠(yuan)。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)是一種存在(zai)于地殼和海(hai)洋中(zhong)的(de)(de)金(jin)(jin)屬。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)在(zai)地殼中(zhong)的(de)(de)含量(liang)約為0.01%，在(zai)個(ge)別銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)床中(zhong)，銅(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)(de)含量(liang)可(ke)以(yi)達到3%～5%。自然界中(zhong)的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)，多數以(yi)化合(he)物即銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)物存在(zai)。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)物與其他(ta)礦(kuang)(kuang)物聚合(he)成銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)石(shi)，開(kai)采出(chu)來的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)石(shi)，經過選礦(kuang)(kuang)而成為含銅(tong)(tong)(tong)品位(wei)較高的(de)(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)精礦(kuang)(kuang)。是唯一的(de)(de)能大量(liang)天(tian)然產出(chu)的(de)(de)金(jin)(jin)屬，也(ye)存在(zai)于各種礦(kuang)(kuang)石(shi)（例如黃銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)、輝銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)、斑銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)、赤銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)和孔(kong)雀(que)石(shi)）中(zhong)，能以(yi)單質金(jin)(jin)屬狀(zhuang)態(tai)及黃銅(tong)(tong)(tong)、青(qing)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)和其他(ta)合(he)金(jin)(jin)的(de)(de)形(xing)態(tai)用(yong)于工業、工程技(ji)術和工藝上(shang)。

銅(tong)是(shi)(shi)與人(ren)類關系非常密切的有色(se)(se)金屬(shu)，被廣泛地(di)應(ying)用于(yu)電氣、輕工(gong)、機械制造、建筑工(gong)業(ye)、國防工(gong)業(ye)等領域，在中(zhong)國有色(se)(se)金屬(shu)材料(liao)的消費中(zhong)僅次(ci)于(yu)鋁(lv)。銅(tong)是(shi)(shi)一種紅色(se)(se)金屬(shu)，同時也是(shi)(shi)一種綠色(se)(se)金屬(shu)。說它是(shi)(shi)綠色(se)(se)金屬(shu)，主要是(shi)(shi)因(yin)為(wei)它熔(rong)點(dian)較低(di)，容(rong)易再熔(rong)化、再冶煉(lian)，因(yin)而回收利用相當地(di)便宜。古(gu)代主要用于(yu)器(qi)皿(min)、藝術品(pin)及(ji)武器(qi)鑄造，比較有名的器(qi)皿(min)及(ji)藝術品(pin)如司(si)母(mu)戊(wu)鼎、四羊方尊。