銅(tong)(tong)(tong)是(shi)人(ren)類最早使(shi)用的(de)金屬。早在史前時代，人(ren)們就開始采(cai)掘露天(tian)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)，并(bing)用獲取(qu)的(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)制造(zao)武器(qi)、式具(ju)和(he)其(qi)他器(qi)皿(min)，銅(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)使(shi)用對早期人(ren)類文(wen)明的(de)進步影響深遠。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)是(shi)一(yi)種存在于地殼和(he)海洋(yang)中(zhong)的(de)金屬。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)在地殼中(zhong)的(de)含(han)量(liang)約為(wei)0.01%，在個別銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)床中(zhong)，銅(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)含(han)量(liang)可(ke)以達(da)到(dao)3%～5%。自(zi)然界中(zhong)的(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)，多數以化合物(wu)即銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)物(wu)存在。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)物(wu)與其(qi)他礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)物(wu)聚合成銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)石，開采(cai)出來(lai)的(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)石，經過選礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)而成為(wei)含(han)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)品位較高的(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)精礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)。是(shi)唯一(yi)的(de)能大量(liang)天(tian)然產出的(de)金屬，也(ye)存在于各種礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)石（例(li)如黃銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)、輝銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)、斑(ban)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)、赤銅(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)(kuang)和(he)孔(kong)雀石）中(zhong)，能以單(dan)質金屬狀態及黃銅(tong)(tong)(tong)、青銅(tong)(tong)(tong)和(he)其(qi)他合金的(de)形態用于工業、工程技(ji)術(shu)和(he)工藝上。

銅(tong)是與人類關系非(fei)常密切(qie)的有(you)色金(jin)屬(shu)(shu)，被廣泛地(di)應用于電(dian)氣、輕(qing)工、機械制造、建筑工業、國防工業等領域，在中國有(you)色金(jin)屬(shu)(shu)材料(liao)的消費中僅次于鋁。銅(tong)是一種紅色金(jin)屬(shu)(shu)，同(tong)時也是一種綠(lv)色金(jin)屬(shu)(shu)。說它是綠(lv)色金(jin)屬(shu)(shu)，主要是因為它熔點較低，容易(yi)再熔化(hua)、再冶煉，因而回收利用相當地(di)便宜。古代主要用于器(qi)皿、藝術品(pin)及武(wu)器(qi)鑄(zhu)造，比較有(you)名(ming)的器(qi)皿及藝術品(pin)如(ru)司母戊鼎(ding)、四羊方尊。