銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)是人(ren)(ren)類最早使(shi)用(yong)的(de)金(jin)屬(shu)(shu)。早在(zai)(zai)史前時(shi)代(dai)，人(ren)(ren)們就開始(shi)采掘露天銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)，并用(yong)獲(huo)取(qu)的(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)制造武器(qi)、式具和(he)(he)其他(ta)(ta)器(qi)皿，銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)使(shi)用(yong)對早期人(ren)(ren)類文明的(de)進步(bu)影響深(shen)遠。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)是一種存(cun)在(zai)(zai)于地(di)殼和(he)(he)海洋中(zhong)的(de)金(jin)屬(shu)(shu)。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)在(zai)(zai)地(di)殼中(zhong)的(de)含量(liang)約(yue)為0.01%，在(zai)(zai)個別(bie)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)床中(zhong)，銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)的(de)含量(liang)可以達到3%～5%。自然界中(zhong)的(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)，多數以化合(he)(he)物(wu)即(ji)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)物(wu)存(cun)在(zai)(zai)。銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)物(wu)與其他(ta)(ta)礦(kuang)(kuang)物(wu)聚合(he)(he)成銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)石(shi)(shi)，開采出來的(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)石(shi)(shi)，經過選礦(kuang)(kuang)而成為含銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)品位較高(gao)的(de)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)精礦(kuang)(kuang)。是唯一的(de)能(neng)大量(liang)天然產出的(de)金(jin)屬(shu)(shu)，也存(cun)在(zai)(zai)于各種礦(kuang)(kuang)石(shi)(shi)（例(li)如黃銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)、輝銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)、斑銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)、赤(chi)銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)礦(kuang)(kuang)和(he)(he)孔雀石(shi)(shi)）中(zhong)，能(neng)以單質金(jin)屬(shu)(shu)狀態及(ji)黃銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)、青銅(tong)(tong)(tong)(tong)和(he)(he)其他(ta)(ta)合(he)(he)金(jin)的(de)形(xing)態用(yong)于工業、工程技術和(he)(he)工藝(yi)上。

銅(tong)是(shi)與人類關系非常(chang)密切的有色(se)金(jin)屬，被廣泛(fan)地(di)應用于(yu)(yu)電氣(qi)、輕工(gong)、機械(xie)制造(zao)、建筑工(gong)業(ye)、國防工(gong)業(ye)等領域，在中國有色(se)金(jin)屬材料的消費中僅(jin)次于(yu)(yu)鋁(lv)。銅(tong)是(shi)一(yi)(yi)種紅色(se)金(jin)屬，同時(shi)也是(shi)一(yi)(yi)種綠(lv)(lv)色(se)金(jin)屬。說它(ta)是(shi)綠(lv)(lv)色(se)金(jin)屬，主要是(shi)因(yin)為它(ta)熔(rong)點較低(di)，容易再熔(rong)化、再冶(ye)煉，因(yin)而(er)回收利用相當地(di)便宜。古代主要用于(yu)(yu)器皿、藝術品及(ji)武器鑄造(zao)，比(bi)較有名(ming)的器皿及(ji)藝術品如(ru)司母戊鼎(ding)、四羊方尊。